The fragility of life - embryological development
The embryo project started in 2003. 'Much ado about nothing' was my first installation within the theme.
The installation consists of 40 hollow hanging wax shelves. Inside the wax the remnants of sand from all continents, and coffee.
In the center an alabaster embryo sculpture.
'Much ado... the others' (2011) was a temporary installation, created after hearing the stories of women losing their baby during pregnancy, or deciding for an abortion.
' Much ado ... Nothing really' (2012) is a small work I made years after I had a miscarriage.
Photos in slideshow below
The installation consists of 40 hollow hanging wax shelves. Inside the wax the remnants of sand from all continents, and coffee.
In the center an alabaster embryo sculpture.
'Much ado... the others' (2011) was a temporary installation, created after hearing the stories of women losing their baby during pregnancy, or deciding for an abortion.
' Much ado ... Nothing really' (2012) is a small work I made years after I had a miscarriage.
Photos in slideshow below
Works in 2013 and 2014
A Quasar (quasi-stellar radio source) is an astronomical object, a very energetic and distant (thus ancient) active galactic nucleus. A quasar is generally seen as a compact region in the centre of a massive galaxy, that surrounds its supermassive black hole. Looking at a quasar, one is looking back into history, at the very birth of the universe, billions of years ago.
During my research I became intrigued by the drawings of Ernst von Haeckel (1834-1919). I was fascinated by their detail and perfection. The eminent biologist, philosopher, physician, professor and artist described and catalogued thousands of species. Despite the fact that von Haeckel’s ideas are considered important in the history of evolutionary theories, many concepts he suggested later proved to be speculative. He developed the controversial biogenetic law "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny." I contacted the veterinary faculty of Ghent and it turned out to be the start of an exciting collaboration.
I discovered a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and ultimately one of its images was the foundation for the work of ‘Quasar". An electron microscope photo shows in great detail an exposed five-day old chicken embryo. The actual embryo looked like a tiny black stone: beautiful and horrible. The image 'Quasar' represents this embryo in crystal, surrounded by water, dead. At the same time the convex lens grants us a glimpse of new life. A look back in the past to the beginning of new things... The biogenetic law ‘ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny’states that in developing from embryo to adult, animals go through stages resembling or representing successive stages in the evolution of their remote ancestors.
My fascination for the drawings and discussions drove me towards my five species in crystal: 'Quasar-Morphogenesis'.
The work shows the power and beauty of Science, but also lays a finger on the temptation of knowledge for Von Haeckel made some personal changes to his drawings to prove his biogenetic law to be true. For this project I worked with universities from Ghent (Belgium), Middletown and Michigan (Usa) who searched through their databases to find the right type of embryos. The five crystal balls are presented inside a glass WECK bowl . Weck bowls are frequently used in Belgium to conserve food.
photos on slideshow below
During my research I became intrigued by the drawings of Ernst von Haeckel (1834-1919). I was fascinated by their detail and perfection. The eminent biologist, philosopher, physician, professor and artist described and catalogued thousands of species. Despite the fact that von Haeckel’s ideas are considered important in the history of evolutionary theories, many concepts he suggested later proved to be speculative. He developed the controversial biogenetic law "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny." I contacted the veterinary faculty of Ghent and it turned out to be the start of an exciting collaboration.
I discovered a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and ultimately one of its images was the foundation for the work of ‘Quasar". An electron microscope photo shows in great detail an exposed five-day old chicken embryo. The actual embryo looked like a tiny black stone: beautiful and horrible. The image 'Quasar' represents this embryo in crystal, surrounded by water, dead. At the same time the convex lens grants us a glimpse of new life. A look back in the past to the beginning of new things... The biogenetic law ‘ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny’states that in developing from embryo to adult, animals go through stages resembling or representing successive stages in the evolution of their remote ancestors.
My fascination for the drawings and discussions drove me towards my five species in crystal: 'Quasar-Morphogenesis'.
The work shows the power and beauty of Science, but also lays a finger on the temptation of knowledge for Von Haeckel made some personal changes to his drawings to prove his biogenetic law to be true. For this project I worked with universities from Ghent (Belgium), Middletown and Michigan (Usa) who searched through their databases to find the right type of embryos. The five crystal balls are presented inside a glass WECK bowl . Weck bowls are frequently used in Belgium to conserve food.
photos on slideshow below
'Quasar' 2013 Crystal, glass, water
'Quasar/morfogenesis' , 2014 - crystal, glass, water; bronze base
A light: 2017
'Quasar-light', 2017
crystal, glass, water, lights, medical stand
crystal, glass, water, lights, medical stand