SYNAPSE in Fabelist Journal
My work has recently been published in the Fabelist website's online journal, Connect' along with a statement about my current work, Synapse.
The Fabelist, an international arts community, have a website with a blog where artists, writers, and musicians can submit regular blog posts about their current work, that is usually based around a project brief, such as 'Connect'.
Over the last 6 months I have been making work along the theme of neurological connections, where I have written blog posts on the website and I have submitted some work for the project into the journal.
Check out the other artists too at the Fabelist website, and you can see the full list of artists in the current journal; http://www.thefabelist.com/projects/issue-three-connect/
SYNAPSE by Kate Harrison
In the last few years my work has been exploring neuroscience, the inter-relationship between art and science, creativity and the brain, including how the areas cross over and inform one another.
In response to the ‘Connect’ project, my work has developed in scientific areas of research, in particular neuroscience & connections within the brain that we can’t see, but are fundamental to our being.
The silk paintings are an abstract representation of a network of connections, using neural imagery as a basis for the drawings. They are inspired by the biology of the human brain; such as neural pathways, folds of the brain and synapse’s.
One of the inspirations behind the aesthetics of my silk paintings, are the intricate nerve drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934). Cajal is the founder of modern neuroscientist, and was the first person to draw nerves from a dissected brain.
I’m intrigued by the ‘ever-changing landscape’ of the brain, it’s ability to change and adapt due to external factors due to it’s plasticity. This has inspired my process of working, in the blending of inks and paints, layering with intricate drawings, as well as the intuitive way of working.
The silk material is significant because of it’s use in modern neuroscience, due to it’s strong, thin and malleable fibres used within brain surgery procedures. The silk also references the fragility, yet extreme strength of the human brain.
This body of work has concluded for a recent exhibition, with a series of silk wall hangings, alongside prints showing details of the work. Neuroscience is an ongoing interest within my art practice, and I intend to keep developing my research and ideas in this area of work in future projects.