I am not used to this. Most of my SciArt projects take several months to complete. But this one is almost done. I just need to fully assemble it and take better pictures. Introducing "Muted Potential"! The cellular pattern is based on an image of a stem cell culture that can serve as an endless... Continue Reading →
Attracting more people to find treatments for devastating diseases
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I used to work as a neuroscientist at a neurology-focused biotech company. Coming from an insulated environment of academic research, it was a truly eye-opening experience for me on many levels. While academic biomedical research is often driven by natural curiosity about... Continue Reading →
Feeling aggressive? You’re not alone.
Last weekend, I was assaulted on the street in broad daylight. I was walking on the sidewalk and a woman crossed the street to come and yell at me for no reason. In more colorful language than I am willing to write here, she told me to get out of there, spit at me and... Continue Reading →
Nerve trauma and how glial cells can help
Some people have asked me why I only share my artistic side on my website. Where is the science? After all, I should start practicing what I preach and explaining science to people who don't deal with it every day. Well, exciting news! Starting this week, I will be alternating posts where I show updates... Continue Reading →
Why is art so rewarding to the brain?
Several years ago, I received a comment on my website stating that: Work and chores get done, because the world needs them to be done. #Art gets done because there is an internal need for it to happen.Tweet I grew up doing a lot of arts and crafts, which did not necessarily stem from the... Continue Reading →
My new brain art project is off to the races!
With the exception of "The Brain Project", which showed the amazing connectedness of the human nervous system, I have spent the last few months fiddling around with some small home decor art projects while incubating the next big SciArt idea. Then I spent another month thinking of the engineering logistics needed to put it together. ... Continue Reading →
“Sanguine Expectations” in the time of COVID-19
The Corona Virus pandemic has upended our lives. We were already facing global climate change and increases in the number of nuclear weapons. Now this virus, and others that may follow. Most of us who are fortunate enough to be artists don’t usually need to confront such realities. We survived 9/11 and Sandy. We have... Continue Reading →
The Brain Project – I am finally allowed to share it!
The contest "The Yogen Früz Brain Project [is] a city-wide Toronto art exhibit, [and] is celebrating its fifth year with exciting, thought-provoking works of art that raise awareness about brain health and critical funding for research at Baycrest for Alzheimer’s and related dementias." Earlier this year, my proposal got accepted to "The Brain Project" by... Continue Reading →
How can art help us deal with stress, get through COVID-19 and come out on the other side?
The Corona Virus pandemic has upended our lives. We were already facing global climate change and increases in the number of nuclear weapons. Now this virus, and others that may follow. Most of us who are fortunate enough to be artists don’t usually need to confront such realities. We survived 9/11 and Sandy. We have... Continue Reading →
Using SciArt to battle stress and find hope
This blog post was originally published on Lifeology on 5/10/20. Art has at least seven different functions, according to Alain de Botton and John Armstrong’s “Art as Therapy”: 1) Remembering, 2) Hope, 3) Sorrow, 4) Rebalancing, 5) Self-Understanding, 6) Growth, and 7) Appreciation. Art helps us to remember the past, hope for something better and process our feelings. Last year, before hearing about... Continue Reading →