Visceral Reactions 

     Double majoring in Biology and Visual Art Studies has challenged me and further cultivated my interest in both fields. These two fields connect more than people realize and can work together to better explore and express the human experience. “Visceral Reactions”, my Senior Exhibition, intertwines my passion for art and biology, and exposes their interconnectedness while highlighting the innate connection human beings have with nature. 

     My  work is inspired by the complexity of the human body- a work of art that allows us to feel, think, create and express our emotions in ways that no other animal is capable of doing. Our bodies are the vessels through which we interact with the world around us. We observe through our sensory organs and our emotions evoke autonomic responses. These automatic, unconscious responses may result in a flood of hormones leading to complex chain reactions, such as an increase of our heart rate, dilation of our pupils, or vasoconstriction.  Billons of reactions occur over and over again making it impossible to fully grasp the network of physiological mechanisms occurring in a body moment to moment. There is a lack of appreciation for the constant beat of the heart and the expansion and contraction of the lungs. Externally visible organs such as eyes and the largest organ, skin, seen and touched daily, don’t get the appreciation and wonder they deserve. In my art, I explore the wonder that is the human body by tying anatomy to emotions.

     There are numerous anatomical diagrams filling textbooks and many anatomical models that capture the likeness of the human body but, as Neil Shubin University of Chicago paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and medical school anatomy director, once wrote, “…what sane person forms a human connection at the sight of a gallbladder?” (Shubin, 2009). In life, anatomy is not separate from emotions. For this reason, in my work, organs, based off of anatomical models, lie exposed within seemingly live human figures.

     In the large paintings, each organ displayed represents a specific emotion experienced by the figure. The heart represents calm passion. The lungs are linked to anxiety and stress. The stomach connects to nervousness. The figures in these paintings are people that came from my imagination. Their features are a mixture from various anonymous reference photos. Because of this, they are complete strangers to both you and to me. When we look at people no matter who they are or where they’re from what matters is that we recognize others as human beings just like ourselves who are filled with emotions. So as in real life, we can all draw from our own experiences in an effort to understand the emotions of the people within these paintings and empathize with them. The eyes call for self-reflection and a chance to consider the perspective of others. The brain, the control center of the body, and the way we think influences how we feel.

A closed mind set is a cage that makes biology and art seem like two completely different subjects that never interact. Opening that cage allows the mind and creativity to flourish. 

      The figures reside within natural environments to elicit child-like wonder and connection to nature. The environments also showcase the importance of noticing the beauty in small seemingly mundane things.

Ultimately my work builds bridges between Biology and Art so that I can cross them as an artist and a future healthcare professional. 

Shubin, Neil. Your Inner Fish: The Amazing Discovery of our 375-Million-Year-Old Ancestor. Penguin, 2009.