Whirling

Whirling is series of four kinetic art works which were part of the Cosmic Consciousness . This was a commissioned art exhibit which took place at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, University of Chicago, from January 20 through February 20, 2013.

Each piece 4 by 8 feet in size, suspended from the ceiling, and rotating at 3 revolutions per minute.

The images consist of previous art works, transformed into neuronal profiles, interlaced with my own brain’s MRI structural images, and electroencephalogram (brain wave) thought tracings.

At the very bottom of each piece is a layer of images of my own living neurons. These are actual photographs of my retinal ganglion cells, which are living neurons.

The pieces were printed on a semi-transparent backgrounds (Lexan) in order to allow the environment, and other viewers, to be seen through them. Thus the environment is incorporated into each piece, and into the full ensemble.

The whirling rotation refers, in part, to a human social interaction, that of dance. From recent large-scale installation pieces, I have learned that indeed, it take two to tango, and mirror neurons can do the swing.

The rotation also refers to the Mevlevi Sufi religious practices which originated in Konya, Turkey, and are reflected in the mystical writings of Rumi. The archeological site of Chatal Hoyuk, photographs of which compose the background of the exhibit’s accompanying painting, Veil, is just a few miles from Konya.

Finally, whirling refers to aspects of string theory where our universe may simply be a two dimensional brane floating in multi-dimensional space. The use of neuronal brain images for this string theory brane, was intentional.

These pieces were printed using pigmented inks, and are of archival quality. They were completed in 2013, using a Hewlett Packard 5500 plotter.

An overview of Cosmic Consciousness exhibit can be seen on this YouTube video: