Uri Manor’s laboratory blew my mind and moved my spirit. This place was filled with state of the art microscopes that record via photography and video the functions and dysfunctions of some of the tiniest of organisms in Nature. Many of the photographs and videos where in black and white but the ones in color were incredible beautiful. These microscopes detect when each metal loses electrons and records each unique loss as an artificial color. These electric hues help differentiate the parts of the specimen of study for its understanding. Reds, greens, yellows, purples and blues abound in harmony on a stark black background.
Uri spoke of the usage of microscopy-based methods and biochemical analysis that led him to discover the molecule (spire 1 C) and mechanism controlling critical processes of mitochondrial fission and fusion. Mitochondria are large organelles found in the cytoplasm of all plant and animal cells. The main role of the mitochondria is to produce energy. They are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cells and are essential to the life and death of a cell. Fusion and fission both contribute to maintenance of mitochondrial function and optimize bioenergetic capacity
My work deals with energy issues at a spiritual level so all this fitted me just fine. Exploring energy at a cell level, the issues of life and death and the “control” we have over them lead me to create this piece called “Fission-Fusion”, it is a mandala. A mandala which means circle in Sanskrit, is a spiritual and ritual symbol used in Hinduism and Buddhism representing the universe. It portrays the concentration of energy that balances and connects us to our spirit. In common use, it has become a generic term for any diagram chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe. And what better representation of the microcosm than the cell with its energy power giver the mitochondrion.
