Your brain - on Van Aelst

Kantor Set
Kevin Van Aelst

Several readers have suggested I blog about photographer Kevin Van Aelst in the past weeks. If you've missed out on his work, Kevin is the sort of artist who can portray cellular mitosis in the legendarily difficult medium of Krispy Kreme, or chromosomes in gummi worm, fingerprints in non-dairy creamer, or the Kantor Set in egg yolk. His work is clever, funny, and meticulous to a fault.

Circulatory System (Heart On Your Sleeve), 2009
Kevin Van Aelst

Here's what the artist has to say:

While the depictions of information--such as an EKG, fingerprint, map or anatomical model--are unconventional, the truth and accuracy to the illustrations are just as valid as more traditional depictions. This work is about creating order where we expect to find randomness, and also hints that the minutiae all around us is capable of communicating much larger ideas.(source)

I like that he's recognizing the need for accuracy even in unconventional depictions of science. It's not that you can't have any artistic license when dealing with science - it's just that the art is more powerful if it's not compromised by inaccuracies.

The Heart, 2009
Kevin Van Aelst
Digital C-Print, 40 x 30 inches

Do you, too, *heart* Van Aelst's work? You can buy The Heart (2009) at the 2009 PRC benefit auction. Or, try emulating Van Aelst when you carve your pumpkin this fall:

Beta-Carotene Molecule, 2006
Kevin Van Aelst

Nice!