portfolios

Anterior Cingulate

2010

The Anterior Cingulate is the part of the brain that separates humans from animals; it gives us the ability to make conscious decisions using rational thought processes of empathy and emotion. Similar to the evolution of land mass over thousands of years, the human brain has morphed and been reshaped into the emotional yet logical form of the modern human. However, we still use the ancient fight or flight, limbic cortex as a back up. Every brain is shaped individually throughout a single lifetime. If it is nourished with good food and positive thinking the anterior cingulate grows strong and overpowers the fear- oriented limbic cortex. However, if fear, trauma, anxiety or depression play a large roll in the brain’s development, pathways are created and repeated negative behavior becomes habitual.
            This work comes from experience living with alcoholism, anxiety, depression and denial, all causing the brain to deteriorate and to react to life with bad coping mechanisms. The brain becomes accustomed to negativity, leaving deep grooves that are difficult to circumvent. The process of healing these negative pathways calls for positive thinking and meditation. These images are MRIs of my brain 10 years ago. They have been digitally dissected into abstract forms, becoming Rorschachian pictures as watercolor and graphite are applied. This process represents the process of healing and the creation of new paths in a brain that was set to negativity. The amended brain is a stronger, healthier one, different than it would have been had all these negative actions not occurred, but more colorful and beautiful. The audience is encouraged to partake in the process by reading their own interpretations of each piece.