Exhibition: Heart and Mind
January – June 2023
Exhibition
Mind and Heart is a series of black ink drawings and alcohol ink paintings exploring the connection between neuroscience and the human heart. Victoria’s work is inspired by the drawings and cell-stained illuminations of neuroscientists Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Camillo Golgi. Golgi created a staining technique making brain cells (neurons) visible under the microscope. Deeply inspired by their illuminations, Victoria began drawing neurons using black ink pens on distressed yellow paper mimicking the cell-stained images of Cajal and Golgi. Victoria’s research of the brain and the formation of neurons and specifically memories caused her to question whether can one overcome and/or change their negative memories. She became intrigued by the connection between the mind (memories and thoughts) and the heart (emotion). This research on the heart-brain connection led her to the work of Dr. Armour who coined the term ”heart brain”. In 1991, Dr. Armour discovered that the heart has its own ”little brain” composed of approximately 40,000 neurons that are alike neurons in the brain. Thus, Victoria’s research led her to explore the anatomical heart through drawing and photography.
About the Artist
Victoria is a multi-disciplined artist who graduated in 2003 from the University of Manitoba receiving a B.F.A. First Class Honours degree. Her work is broad in style and genre from traditional black ink drawings to alcohol ink paintings, and experimental films.
She has won various awards such as the Winnipeg Arts Council’s “On the Rise”, and Best Picture for the Urban Reels Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Victoria’s work has been shown in film festivals nationally and internationally such as in Egypt, the UK, South Africa, France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.