How did you get interested in depicting the brain?
I've always been interested in science, and one day in 2014 my partner asked me if I had ever thought about creating a brain. That intrigued me, so for an upcoming fiber art exhibition, I submitted two embroidered brains.
Are these abstract or realistic images of the brain?
Although I sometimes model my brains on real diagrams, I consider my art to be fantastical journeys into the brain. For my third brain, I collaborated with the person who commissioned the project. Her daughter had undergone surgery to have the right half of her brain removed to treat intractable epilepsy. The colleague said she wanted a right-facing brain so the missing half would be represented. She chose the colors and asked for an artistic representation. I built the brain around the images and colors she liked.
What materials do you use for your brains?
I'm a mixed-media artist. I generally include fabric, embroidery, and paint to create two-dimensional hangable artworks. I did one three-dimensional piece that commemorated my stepmother, who had Parkinson's-related dementia, for a show in Canada in 2017. I've used stuffed fabric to represent the gyri in the brain, the area that holds all the neuronal activity. I also have a line of enamel lapel pins that people in the neurology world really love to wear.
You've had a bout of vestibular neuritis [inflammation of the vestibular part of cranial nerve 8, causing vertigo, nausea, and imbalance]. How has that affected your life and work?
Initially, I couldn't drive or walk very well. But with regular physical therapy and a lot of help from my partner and friends, I'm walking better now, I no longer use a walking stick for balance, and I'm driving again. I've seen diagrams of what's going on in the inner ear and have created a little vestibular neuritis piece that I gave to my physical therapist. This whole experience has been an interesting reminder of how dependent we are on everything working well all the time—and when it doesn't, it's hard.
How has your art strengthened your understanding of the brain?
Every year, I've attended an Art of Neuroscience exhibition sponsored by the Society for Neuroscience. And I'm always reading about the brain or studying pictures of it. I've learned about the role of neurons and glial cells, among many other things. I've also worked closely with neurologists and neuroscientists who have been supportive, informative, and encouraging.
What's next for you?
I would like to do some pieces about mental health. The more I do this, the more I realize how prevalent neurologic disorders, including my own, are. I like to challenge people to see if they know someone who has one.
To learn more about Laura Bundesen and her artwork, listen to our podcast interview with her and visit her website at laurabundesen.com.
