| The Seven Prerequisites for Life is a biological sculpture presenting all of the main functions of a natural organism: growth, evolution, metabolism, response, reproduction, order, and regulation. Exhibited in Rochester, New York in December 2007, this sculpture has attained recognition in local news media and the internationally syndicated Ripley's Believe It or Not for its innovation in the field of art-science integration.;My thesis explores artistic motivations behind this endeavor, traversing from early fascination with magic through more mature investigations into the relationship between the fine arts, sciences, and mathematics. Intertwined with my enduring attraction to photography is the belief that this artistic discipline is---more so than any other---the exploitation of physical and chemical phenomena to complete artistic studies of one's surroundings.;The outcome of my investigation into the relationships between scientific phenomena and the fine arts may be observed in my installation, which reflects the many scientific and mathematic principles incorporated in its creation. Also intrinsic to its manifestation are the concepts of zero-point energy and the body as a source of light. Self-guided studies into quantum theory and metaphysics have led me to the awareness that all organisms are vessels of light, both absorbing and emitting it as an essential life function. This underlying concept has guided me to create a synthetic being of energy in the universe's image. |
