Artist Talk: Synaptic Sculpture

Artist Talk: Synaptic Sculpture

Pinar Yoldas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Visual Arts, University of California San Diego

Thursday, February 29, 2024
4:15pm - 5:15pm
Smith Warehouse, Rm A266, Bay 10

The term "synaptic" is fundamentally anchored in the field of neuroscience, where it delineates the junctures through which nerve impulses traverse from one neuron to another. This process is instrumental in constructing the intricate web of communications that form the basis of our cognitive functions, including thought, memory, and emotion. Within the realm of "synaptic sculpture," this neuroscientific principle is leveraged to elucidate the profound impact of art on human sensation, perception, emotion, and behavior. Yoldas' presentation will delve into a selection of her artworks created from 2017 onwards, and will culminate in a discussion of her latest focus on photobioreactor design.

Dr. Pinar Yoldas (Duke Ph.D. '16) is an infradisciplinary architect /designer/artist/researcher. Her work engages biological sciences and digital technologies with a focus on environmental justice and feminist tech no-science. Yoldas is a 2015 John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, a 2016 FEAT Award winner, and a 2018 Hellman Fellow.

(Reception to follow at the Rubenstein Arts Center)

Sponsored by the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies (AAHSV) Visiting Artist Series. Co-sponsored by Information Science+ Studies (ISS), Program in Computational Media, Arts & Cultures (CMAC), Program in Literature, and the S-1 Speculative Sensation Lab.