Formally trained as a biologist, a primary theme that informs my practice is the intersection of the visual arts and science. These disciplines are often perceived as being distinct from each other, but they share many commonalities including that they are systems that produce knowledge, in addition to being avenues for investigation and communication. My current body of work entitled Ōra is informed by research into the growing influence of neuroscience on contemporary life, including our understanding of the aesthetic experience. The allure of neuroculture can be the promise of a unified theory of knowledge, bridging the divide between the sciences and humanities by encompassing fields of study conventionally the focus of philosophical contemplation such as religion and creativity. I have chosen to work with media that visibly react to environmental conditions which echoes how neural networks, and thoughts are in a continuous state of flux in response to our surroundings. Copper, a primordial metal, is essential for neurotransmission and the electrical framework that sustains life. The opaque materiality of soap and its changing translucency mirrors that although we are in an age of technological acceleration with exponential growth of data, a complete understanding of neurocognitive mechanisms involved in consciousness still remains beyond our comprehension. It is this elusive quality that I seek to capture in my work, while also allowing adequate space for individual interpretation.
