Caithness artist explores the inner workings of the brain at Edinburgh show
A Caithness artist talked of her delight at having three paintings at a scientific exhibition in Edinburgh about the workings of the human brain.
Jenny Bruce now lives in Edinburgh but has been a regular contributor to Society of Caithness Artists shows over the last few years.
“I had three artworks in an exhibition organised by the University of Edinburgh FUSION Art and Science Group and the Patrick Wild Centre,” said Jenny.
“This was an event where artists and scientists collaborated to develop artworks based on the brain.
“For me, it has been very interesting to work with a medical research team from the University of Edinburgh who are working with cutting-edge laser technology to develop advances in brain surgery ablation.”
For her featured paintings, Jenny examined microscopic slides and discussed the use of laser techniques for cutting away cancerous tissue without invasion complications.
“It is not a strange departure from my normal artwork as I’ve had experience previously of working with structures seen in a microscope.
“Whilst in the first term of Grays School of Art in Aberdeen in 1961 we were sent to the anatomical museum and forensic labs in Marischal College to sketch. Anatomy and the structures of the muscles being then a fundamental part in understanding the structure of the body in figure drawing and painting.
“Likewise, in 1970 I was commissioned by a parasitologist whilst he was undertaking his PHD at Cambridge University to help him in his research to ascertain exactly how the parasites were adhering to the veins. I had to sketch whilst looking down the microscope at cross sections of tissue and then complete a large painting of the inside of this vein with the blood flowing through it.
“This gentleman later went on to become the chair of Zoology at the University of Glasgow.”
Another project where she used microscope slides for source material was the Rock Rose art exhibition Inspired by Gin at Dunnet where she undertook an analysis of the gin ingredients and then used shapes from the microscope as the basis of her artwork.
In 2019 Jenny completed an exhibition called Cosmic Timelessness at Summerhall, Edinburgh, in which she explored micro and macro structures and their similarities.
“The artworks involved using Petri dishes with bacteria and staining this with natural dyes from plants and how effective coffee, beetroot or lemon juice could be as alternatives to conventional paints.”
The Developing Brain exhibition will also be on at Open Doors Day in Edinburgh on September 28 at the Institute of Regeneration and Repair as part of the research complex.
