Mortal, Works on paper, 2011.
This work investigates microscopic cellular division. At its most basic level, cell division is a symbolic comparison to the process of printmaking. I am interested in things that lie beneath the surface. Living organisms may seem healthy but on the cellular level, the active cells may be mutating. Cells multiply, just as prints are multiples of the plate they come from.
4 stages of cancer, 6 stages of mitosis. When cells mutate it may cause the cell to multiply uncontrollably, forming a tumor. Although the duration of a cell cycle in tumor cells is equal to or longer than that of a normal cell cycle, the proportion of cells that are in active cell division in tumors is much higher than that in normal tissue. Thus there is a net increase in cell numbers as the number of cells that die by apoptosis (the process of programmed cell death) or senescence(the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity), remains the same.
I discuss exponential growth within this series. I explain the stages of cell division with simple basic biology illustrations in and above the surface of the paper, as it would be explained to a newly admitted patient.
Starting from a healthy human specimen, I illustrated cancer growth. Breaking through the second stage, growing towards the third stage, in which the effects of chemo therapy and radiation have taken their toll on the body.
Missing the vein, dripping fluids, poking, prodding, as well as the experimentation and the procedures underwent in institutionalized medicine. This is exemplified by a mechanical sewing machine bulldozing through the paper, as well methodical hand stitches. By the forth stage, the exponential growth of cancer cells have overtaken other parts of the body. The paper starts to emulate the wounds and scars resulting from the history of surgery and cancer therapy. The cells which are actively undergoing the cell cycle are targeted in cancer therapy as the DNA is relatively exposed during cell division and hence susceptible to damage by drugs, chemo therapy and radiation.
Sometimes, one must agree to experience pain and scaring in order to heal.
4 stages of cancer, 6 stages of mitosis. When cells mutate it may cause the cell to multiply uncontrollably, forming a tumor. Although the duration of a cell cycle in tumor cells is equal to or longer than that of a normal cell cycle, the proportion of cells that are in active cell division in tumors is much higher than that in normal tissue. Thus there is a net increase in cell numbers as the number of cells that die by apoptosis (the process of programmed cell death) or senescence(the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity), remains the same.
I discuss exponential growth within this series. I explain the stages of cell division with simple basic biology illustrations in and above the surface of the paper, as it would be explained to a newly admitted patient.
Starting from a healthy human specimen, I illustrated cancer growth. Breaking through the second stage, growing towards the third stage, in which the effects of chemo therapy and radiation have taken their toll on the body.
Missing the vein, dripping fluids, poking, prodding, as well as the experimentation and the procedures underwent in institutionalized medicine. This is exemplified by a mechanical sewing machine bulldozing through the paper, as well methodical hand stitches. By the forth stage, the exponential growth of cancer cells have overtaken other parts of the body. The paper starts to emulate the wounds and scars resulting from the history of surgery and cancer therapy. The cells which are actively undergoing the cell cycle are targeted in cancer therapy as the DNA is relatively exposed during cell division and hence susceptible to damage by drugs, chemo therapy and radiation.
Sometimes, one must agree to experience pain and scaring in order to heal.
