Reymond Lise

03 A Study of Neural Tissues

Photomicrographs of histology slides prepared by Ward's Science+, specifically tracing a path from sensation (nerves) to information relay (spinal cord) to processing (cerebrum).

“We as humans are so much larger than the parts that make us, and yet we are still so small. We cannot see the cells that built our foundation, we cannot feel the bonds that hold them together, and yet they form the basis of our fundamental reality. Microscopy offers a glimpse into the world just beneath our fingertips, the reality that exists all around us and within our very beings. I want to open the dialogue for scientific methodology to inform and lay the foundation for artistic practice. Hopefully, through closer examination of mammalian tissue, we can better understand our connection and place within the natural world. There is something about crouching over a microscope, gingerly adjusting the magnification, and peering into a world completely beyond the one you have known that inspires such awe. It is so alien and yet so familiar. Looking at specimens with the knowledge that these structures exist within us is profound. As a trans person, I have always felt a disconnection from my own body that seemed insurmountable, but when I look at these fragments of the universe, I almost feel connected. The sensations I experience and the feelings they bring forth feel real, grounded in a reality I can observe. ”