Delicacy and Durability: The Microbiological Sublime

chromatic sculptures from layers of paper, considers Outbreak, this month’s cover image, an exploration “of the microbiological sublime.” Spilling from their petri dishes, overflowing into the space between them, the organisms appear kinetic; the sweep of light and shadow across the image adds depth and dimension to the all-white forms. For full impact, though, this sculpture needs to be viewed in person. In the artist’s words, “Each piece suddenly comes alive when it is placed vertically in the light. Photos only catch them at a certain moment. In reality, the pieces move with the changes in the ambient lighting, so they are always slightly different.” (The quoted text in this essay is from personal communication with Rogan Brown, November 17, 2014.) To prepare for his work on Outbreak, Brown studied myriad photos and diagrams depicting bacteria and viruses. “For the bacteria, I was attracted more by the flagellate forms (salmonella, E. coli, Vibrio cholerae) simply because they offer a more aesthetically interesting bug-like shape, both beautiful and creepy at the same time, which was the effect I wanted to create. For the viruses, I was looking at influenza and HIV because these are forms that are most accessible and familiar to the public.” He notes that “Although I reference the aesthetics of scientific illustration, diagrams, cut-away models, and so forth, my goal is not to create accurate representations but works of art that create a visual, sensual impact.” Pathogens and microbes vary immensely in their form, color, and complexity. Stains and dyes are often used to highlight pathogens viewed through microscopes, and those colored, contrasted images may be the first to come to mind. Instead of color, however, Brown focuses on contour and shape, methodically sculpting sheets of paper. For that task, he relies on both traditional tools such as knives and scalpels and modern tools such as laser cutters.