The Mind-Body Concerto, Edinburgh Neuroscience

Sep, 2024

Supported by Our Minds Fellowship, Edinburgh Neuroscience, the project is designed to elucidate the interplay between instrumental practice and painting, investigating how music shapes the entire artistic creation process in multifaceted ways, from the physical to the psychological. It aims to convert the theoretical insights from studies indicating lifelong musical training's enduring effect on the brain into a tangible artistic experience.


 

Wushuang created a triptych of paintings based on Haydn's "Concerto in C Major," with each painting mirroring a concerto movement. These pieces will serve as a visual response to her musical background and will demonstrate the formative power of music on both the body movement and mental framework within the artistic process. They act as a display of her auditory-visual association, echoing how music subtly influences cognition and creative expression.

The project juxtaposed painting and music, with the artworks presented in an arranged installation that guided the audience through a visual interpretation of the concerto. Wushuang performed on the cello alongside the paintings, merging creator and creation in a dialogue between sound and image.

 
 
 
 
 

"Neuraplysia" is a sculpture named after "Neuro," symbolizing the brain and nervous system, and inspired by the shape of Aplysia (commonly known as sea hares), a marine mollusk renowned in neuroscience for its large and accessible neural structures. The surface of "Neuraplysia" is adorned with vibrant, interconnected patterns reminiscent of neurons and their synapses. These patterns symbolize the communication and signal transmission between neurons, mirroring the intricate network within the human brain. The shimmering, luminescent elements embedded in the design highlight the nuclei of neurons. The friendly shape of sea hares also creates an inviting atmosphere that welcomes viewers to touch, hug, and explore its surface, much like scientists explore the mysteries of the brain.