Art and the Brain

Exhibition Review: Art and the Brain

Synaptic connections: Art and the Brain, is an interactive and multi disciplinary exhibition at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia running from September 23, 2011 to January 29, 2012. Art and neuroscience join in an exhibition featuring painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, textile, installation, sculpture and video. Many works are very scientific while others are entertaining, emotional, and quirky.

When walking into the exhibition, the one room is long and rectangular with many hanging works, one sculpture, and three installations. All of the different works come from around the world on loan from the artists or galleries. All works embody a different observation of the brain, whether it was the anatomy, memory or illness. The sensation the exhibition first creates is an inviting one. As a whole it is bright, colourful, intelligent,

and interactive. One work that stood out to the most, one that seemed to be

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privileged amongst the rest was Stella Ducklow and Robert Walkens video installation Sub Cue. Two minds are captivated by an idea of the brain with its emotions unleashed.

Sub Cue installation was immediately gravitational. It pulls you into a small dark room set at the very end of the exhibition and the only work in the exhibition completely on its own. Before you enter the room to your right is a small window made of plexus glass, scratched furiously on its surface is written, “STELLA WAS HERE”. These words will haunt your vision, as if it was etched on your own cornea. Why are these words written? It seems like this artist wanted to be remembered and show us she too can make a mark on this world. If she told us a story of her being here once in this dark room, maybe we will not remember it, but when you read these three fiercely written words, you cannot just brush it off, it is forever engraved in your mind and in the glass. As a viewer you are also shut off and alone in...