In this body of work, I am portraying the human figure at its most basic biological level, an organism. There are many cells and processes happening within the body that allow life to persist or end. These cells and forms are unseen by the naked eye and require a compound microscope or scanning electron microscope to be viewed.  In “Strengths Unseen” the figures are posed to embody strength and durability. The figures are covered in the various enlarged cells and forms that allow the human organism to be resilient and mighty. In “Weaknesses Unseen” the figures are posed to portray fragility, weakness and angst. These figures are crawling with enlarged versions of viruses, bacterias, parasites, etc. to communicate the biological threats organisms face every day. 

As human beings, we entrust our bodies to take care of themselves at some point. We do not focus on things like breathing, digestion, absorption of nutrients, muscle contractions that allow walking to take place, etc. We forget that our bodies are an entity almost outside of ourselves. We expect the body to function properly and protect us from disease. On a regular basis, our bodies are bombarded by chemicals, viruses, bacterias, parasites, and disease causing pathogens and on a regular basis, we remain completely unaware. This body of work demonstrates the wonders of the body as an organism and how other organisms inside of it serve a purpose that ensures a quality life. This work also demonstrates how the body can deteriorate quickly depending on which attack force attempts to hinder it, making life a painful and miserable existence. 

I have always thought of human beings as very complex organisms that care about other organisms, have belief systems, hope to live long meaningful lives, socialize for many reasons outside of survival and dream about the future. They are also deceitful, vindictive, manipulative, murderous, cruel and unforgiving to each other as well as other organisms. Outside of psychological and emotional expression, there is a physical expression that no one has ever laid eyes on without a device that provides raw footage to a world so small, its as if it doesn’t exist at all. This world is the composition of the human form. My goal is to express this version of the figure and explore the details of physical life continuing, and death causing entities that remain unseen to the naked eye.