Exploring Neuroscience Through Art: Three Artists' Perspectives
This duality of the brain’s perception—where the lines between the real and the imagined blur—echoes through the works of neuro-inspired artists. Their creations often reflect a deep understanding of this concept, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions of reality.
contemporary art, neuroart
Capturing the intricacies of the cerebellum in Self Reflected, illuminated under a spectrum of colors. Photo courtesy: Will Drinker and Greg Dunn
The brain is the most complex and mysterious organ in the human body. It is the source of our thoughts, emotions, memories, and creativity. It is also the subject of intense scientific research, as neuroscientists try to unravel its secrets and understand how it works. But the brain is not only a scientific object, it is also an artistic inspiration. Many artists have been fascinated by the brain and neuroscience, and have used their skills and imagination to create works that reflect, challenge, or celebrate the brain and its functions. In this post, we will look at three contemporary artists who have created works related to the brain and neuroscience, and how they approach this topic from different perspectives.
Greg Dunn: The Beauty of the Brain
Greg Dunn is a former neuroscientist who turned into a full-time artist. He uses gold leaf and specialized glue to create stunning paintings of neurons and other brain structures. He combines his scientific knowledge with his artistic vision to reveal the beauty and complexity of the brain. His works are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also accurate and informative, as they depict the actual shapes and patterns of the brain cells and circuits. Dunn says that his goal is to "capture the essence of the brain's elegant form and function" and to "bridge the gap between art and science".
Dunn's paintings are influenced by Asian art, especially Japanese and Chinese ink painting. He uses a technique called microetching, which involves scratching the surface of the gold leaf with a fine needle, creating different levels of reflectivity. This way, he can control how the light interacts with the painting, creating dynamic and interactive effects. Depending on the angle and the intensity of the light, the painting can change its appearance, revealing new details and colors. Dunn says that this technique mimics the way the brain works, as it is constantly changing and adapting to the environment. He also says that the gold leaf symbolizes the preciousness and the fragility of the brain, as well as its connection to the spiritual realm.
Some of Dunn's works include:
Cortex in Metallic Pastels: A series of paintings that show the different layers and regions of the cerebral cortex, the outermost part of the brain that is responsible for higher cognitive functions. The paintings use different colors and textures to highlight the diversity and the richness of the cortical architecture.
Gold Cortex 2, Greg Dunn Photo: gregadunn.com
Neural Networks: A series of paintings that show the connections and the interactions among different types of neurons. The paintings use different shapes and patterns to illustrate the different functions and behaviors of the neural networks, such as learning, memory, and plasticity.
Neural Netwoks, Greg Dunn, Photo: wnyc.org
Albert Barqué-Duran: The Psychology of the Brain
Albert Barqué-Duran is a lecturer in psychology and a multimedia artist who explores the cognitive and emotional aspects of human behavior. He uses data, artificial intelligence, and emoji to create interactive installations and digital paintings that reflect how we communicate and perceive the world. He aims to make neuroscience more accessible and engaging for the public, as well as to challenge the assumptions and the biases that we have about ourselves and others.
Barqué-Duran's works are influenced by his own research and experiments, as well as by the latest findings and theories in neuroscience and psychology. He uses different methods and tools to collect and analyze data, such as surveys, eye-tracking, facial recognition, and machine learning. He then uses these data to generate or manipulate visual and auditory stimuli, such as images, sounds, and texts. He also invites the audience to participate and interact with his works, creating feedback loops and dynamic experiences.
Some of Barqué-Duran's works include:
Ultimate Emoji: An installation that uses artificial intelligence to create the ultimate emoji for each emotion. The installation asks the participants to select an emotion from a list, and then scans their face to capture their facial expression. The installation then uses a neural network to combine the facial expression with the existing emoji for that emotion, creating a new and personalized emoji. The installation also displays the emoji of other participants, creating a collective and diverse representation of emotions.
ULTIMATE EMOJI (Albert Barqué-Duran) (2019) is a performance and an installation
VESTIBULAR 1: An avant-garde audio-visual installation designed to transport the audience into an illusionary journey of self-motion. Immerse yourself in complete darkness as the installation ingeniously disrupts your vestibular functioning, creating an immersive experience through potent light and sound patterns. These stimuli linger in the retina and auditory system, weaving a tapestry of illusions that transcends the boundaries of traditional perception
VESTIBULAR_1 installation, rooted in pioneering research from the VeME (Vestibular Multisensory Embodiment) Lab at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Laura Jade: The Interaction of the Brain
Laura Jade is an artist and designer who creates interactive sculptures and installations that use brain-computer interfaces and biometric sensors. She aims to make neuroscience more accessible and engaging for the public, as well as to explore the potential and the limitations of the brain and the technology. She says that her works are "designed to spark curiosity and wonder about the inner workings of our minds".
Jade's works are influenced by her background in biology and neuroscience, as well as by her interest in art and technology. She uses different devices and platforms to measure and visualize the brain activity and the physiological responses of the participants, such as electroencephalography (EEG), heart rate, and skin conductance. She then uses these data to control or influence different elements of her works, such as lights, colors, sounds, and shapes. She also creates immersive and playful environments that invite the participants to interact and experiment with their own brains and bodies.
Some of Jade's works include:
Brainlight: A brain sculpture that lights up according to the brainwaves of the participants. The sculpture uses an EEG headset to measure the electrical activity of the brain, and then translates it into different colors and patterns of light. The sculpture also uses a microphone to detect the ambient noise, and adjusts the brightness and the speed of the light accordingly. The sculpture aims to create a visual and interactive representation of the brain and its states, such as relaxation, concentration, and meditation.
Laura's B R A I N L I G H T, a culmination of her Masters of Illumination Design at the University of Technology, Sydney, emerged from the 2015 CULTURE AT WORK art + science residency program.
Atty Michell models the Brainlight from 2015 paired with the upcoming Encircled Maxi Dress set to debut in November.
NeuroFlora: A series of plant sculptures that react to the brainwaves of the participants. The sculptures use an EEG headset to measure the electrical activity of the brain, and then use servomotors to move the leaves and the petals of the plants. The sculptures also use LEDs to create different colors and effects of light. The sculptures aim to create a natural and organic representation of the brain and its dynamics, as well as to explore the relationship between the brain and the environment.
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