Communicating the frontiers of neuroscience through art
2009 topics: Wiring The Brain The Sleeping Brain Sponsored by MRC and MRC-LMB:
Press Coverage: Cambridge Evening News 29July09
Poster and banner designs by Paul Margiotta, photographs of art works by Neil Grant,
topic designs by Graham Lingley and exhibition by Mike Fuller
Sarah Campbell, Education Officer, Kettle's Yard, Cambridge
and Stefanie Reichelt, local artist and Head of Imaging and Microscopy at CRUK CRI, Cambridge (on the right). MRC scientists Mick Hastings (specialist on circadian rhythms) and Christian Wozny (on the extreme left).
The organizers, Yvonne Vallis and Harvey McMahon would like to thank the exhibitors, teachers and the judges for their participation and once again making the event a success.
1st Prize for Imagining The Brain 2009 "Making Connections"
Model of the brain sliced in half (and mounted on a sheet of glass) to enable the viewer to see the memory chips and connections inside
1st prize Sculpture entry in the category:
Wiring The Brain by
David Rutterford Neale-Wade Community College
Notes on sculpture: "I see the brain as loads of little computers wired together working simultaneously… We designed computers based on brain function."
Comments from judges: "Chimera of biology and PC, I enjoyed unravelling the enravelled. A very interesting work."
"Brain as circuitry, loved the inside and outside view, a good idea of the brain as computer and very well executed."
"Love the brain! Great development of ideas, process very clean, imaginative result."
Notes on sculpture: "Music penetrates the mind – the nails covey a sense of physical penetration. The drawings represent the thoughts and emotions of the music from the headphones."
Comments from judges: "Spikey is what spikey does. Loved it.
Very much to the point!"
"Excellent quality in this piece � cruel world � very cool!"
"Very creative, well made. Powerful result."
Jonjo Keefe was invited as the Artist in Residence during the summer of 2009: See web page with sketches and paintings on the theme of Neurodegeneration
3rd prize Animation entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Harriet Rock Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Very engaging tickertape frontispiece, beautifully crafted, tones superb, sketches make it stand out."
"A challenging and powerful yet playful depiction of sleep using videoclips and animation. I loved it."
"High quality video; sketches very original."
Entry in the category: Wiring The Brain by
Liz Clarridge Perse School for Girls
Notes on picture: "The head is cut away to show a textured drawing of the brain. On the other hemisphere sparks from the synapses make the shape of the lamp."
Comments from judges: "Beautiful artwork, with a nice representation of synaptic activity in the brain.."
Notes on model: "My piece is about how lights affect the brain and in turn affect emotions and feelings. The changing colour of the light represents changes in our thoughts."
Comments from judges: "Beautiful, nice construction and display. Is the light an idea?"
"The changing light in the brain indicates changing moods – the wire form is very good."
"Very clever combination of “Wiring the Brain” & lights/lamps."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain by
Emma Vallis Booth Perse School for Girls
Notes on picture: "…the surrealist clock, inspired by Dali, represents the breakdown in circadian rhythm found in people suffering from sleep disorders. I performed a sleep experiment in which I was woken every ninety minutes through the night and did a crude sketch of a clock & the first image that came into my mind. Some of these images were then put as collage onto the dream vortex in the background."
Comments from judges: "An intentional womb shape around the brain? Zoomy swirly background reminds of Wiz of Oz' tornado - sleep draws us in."
"Very good artwork; I especially liked the window view and curtains reversal. The distorted clock gives a great interpretation of what can happen when our body clock gets disrupted."
"Nice line drawings."
Comments from judges: "Stellar eyes. Duality of mind comes through v. strongly."
"A beautiful piece, very well executed and documented."
"Excellent painting; not quite on topic. The supporting work was fabulous."
"Very skilfully painted; great composition. Too far off topic.."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Carrie Pluck Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Spot-on literally, great composition and production."
"A chaotic brain in a chaotic cramped room – seems familiar."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Georgina Case Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Loved the view- brain waves?
Nicely executed abstract – could be layers in the brain or representing thoughts."
"This abstract painting of brain layers was executed in pleasing colours and the picture conveyed a great sense of dynamism."
Highly Commended Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Christopher Susain Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Trick with time- thoughtful, balanced and intriguing."
"Interesting aspects of time/movement and being. A fascinating piece."
"I like this freezing time/quantum leap photo. It asks how the brain processes time and sees the world and is technically very well done."
"Not obvious - which I like. Thought has gone into the layering of imagery.."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Bryony Toop Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Moral dilemma- very appropriate to brain wiring, we have good and evil within but they re-wire with experience."
"A bit cliché but funny."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Sam Dedross Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Very nice aspects of light and dark represented in the face."
"Nice photographic technique and good colours. Not sure of the scientific relevance."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Rachel Torrens Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Beautiful photo – permanence of the ephemeral."
"A very nice, original long exposure photo. Images in light. "
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
James Perrott Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Robocop/ Michael Jackson? Excellent image convinced me of a person trapped inside a machine not a machine pretending to be human."
"Interesting aspect/comparison of human and robot."
"Good technique and texture are used here to create an expressive piece that asks how we view our body as machine.
Nicely painted, good mix of surfaces & strong composition."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Maddie Jarvis Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Interesting artwork."
"Difficult to understand without support work."
Comments from judges: "Gerald Scarfe meets neuroanatomy."
"Very dramatic and enjoyable image."
"A very interesting abstract piece. I like the building up of the surface – a lot of thought in this. "
Comments from judges: "A disturbing and v. real human exhibit- is it unwiring?"
"Very expressive drawing with strong meaning."
"Very nice textured piece; good use of colour."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Jordan Brower Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Very original creative poster – excellent supporting work."
"Good ideas in sketchbook and clearly thinking about artwork. . "
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Maisie Shelborne Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Stream of narrative, angst, hidden and real fears, great graphics much engaged and enjoyed."
"A very personal piece of artwork which I greatly enjoyed."
"Cute, refreshing, psychologically very interesting."
"Original, atmospheric."
Join The Army: Think again
Jordan Brower Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Terrific triptych of progressive cutting back to reveal hidden meanings."
"Want an exciting career? – Do science!
Excellent graphic used to convey a political message. Original idea."
"Great Idea, subtly done."
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Yee Rou Quah Impington Village College
Comments from judges: "Super dramatic images, v. human
Interesting artwork."
"High quality expressive and impressive painting."
"Great use of colour and tight cropping. Psychological studies?"
Picture entry in the category: Wiring The Brain
Vimbai Katsande Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "My (your) inner life- hidden in the brain. I enjoyed the inner view."
"This was a very different concept. I liked the hidden nature of the work and the idea of a journey within."
"Wiring life rather than the brain – a very good interpretation of Sanctuary. Record of inner layers and lines of thought, very creative."
"Very mature and bold piece, personal and well-made.."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Nicholas Constantileris Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Sweet- made me laugh when I saw the pram for what it was- baby in bliss I hope. The entire photo is beautifully composed."
"Very nice photo – I enjoyed it immensely."
"Good depth in focus, mysterious piece."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Charlotte Jackson Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Wistful times- a day dream? Wanting to escape- an engaging image."
"Nice, interesting idea."
"Pop art psychedelic, very funky."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Victoris Simms Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Sweet or scary I just can't say."
"Clever; I enjoyed the contrast between the eye and the background."
"Good close up photo – a bit creepy and different."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Bryony Toop Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Mystic- a great image eyes drawn into it.
Strong, interesting image."
"Interesting photo – good fashion photo theme."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Sophie Cooper Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Great, engaging piece- shards, sharps and shreds- broken sleep broken mind?
Intriguing images."
"A bit like Niki de Saint Phalle. An improvement in technical quality would make this an exceptional piece."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Yee Rou Quah Impington Village College
Comments from judges: "Very dramatic pair of images look terrific together. Blood red?"
"Powerful paired images. They are boldly executed."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Emily Sutton Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "Sleeping beauty? Is the apple bitten- very anti-Disney, why on Earth did she do it?" Interesting aspects of our own development?
"Excellent photo."
Picture entry in the category: The Sleeping Brain
Jessykar Donald Netherhall School & Sixth Form Centre
Comments from judges: "I enjoyed the layering of messages - progressive revelation -sleep stages?"
"The artist conveys sleep and dreaming in an interesting way."
"Good idea to combine writing with photography."
"Better once viewed up close and Alice theme emerges. V rich piece, with messages all over. I was not quite sure what the artist wanted to tell us with this piece. It was beautifully done, though"
Montage used for Imagining The Brain 2009
Reception for winners, with Hugh Pelham, director of LMB, in Neurobiology Division of the MRC-LMB on 11th Sept 2009 at 6pm (Picture)
