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"Neural Network"

Artwork by Jordan Newman, CMS ’21

A colorful abstract acrylic painting meant to figuratively represent synapses in the brain



Artist’s Statement: 

Creating creative works for this journal has been one of the best experiences in medical school for me; it has played a major role in teaching me how, at any level of talent, working to push the boundaries of what you are capable of can produce major rewards and satisfaction. The theme and title of the journal, Synapses, also represent my lifelong interest as a future neurologist. I tried to reflect the complexity of the neural network here in this work.

A specific set of synapses are depicted here in negative. Most of the space contains numerous colors, textures and styles scattered throughout at random; however, a small set of lines joined by regions of synaptic space only contain the base shades of black and gray in a specific linear pattern. The brain tissues are immensely complicated, dense, seemingly random and yet connected; it is this antithetical nature that inspired me to depict them this way.

Acrylic paint on canvas.


To see more artwork (and poetry) by Jordan, check out the 2020, 2019 and 2018 volumes of Synapses.