Author Bio

BIO

Born in Flehingen Germany. Studied physics and then cognitive neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University; joined Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, then directed a cognitive neuroscience research program at the National Institutes of Health. I continue to stay active keeping current with mind/brain science research

Who are we? How are we different from one another? How do our brains work to express our mental functions? I explore these exciting, interesting themes from the vantage point of  neuroscience, art and story teller  (both fiction and non-fiction). In doing so I have tried to keep alive my child’s curiosity and sense of play.

 

Artist statement

Children are creative, curious, superb learners, and often gifted artists. As they mature, they often lose that artistic skill. I have tried to maintain and nurture the playful spirit I had as a child.

Our inner world and the world around us are complex and filled with experiences that we continually struggle to understand. We search for the structure and meaning of our experiences. Looking at a painting is an experience in and of itself, so we implicitly ask “What does this piece of art mean to me?” The creator of a piece of art engages in a ‘conversation’ with the viewer. The way a viewer understands a work of art is an interaction between the artist’s creative intention and the viewer’s history of experiences. Those experiences shape our response and understanding of what we see.

Perspective 

The creative process in science and the arts share much in common. Throughout my career, I have tried to blend my work as an artist, storyteller, and neuroscientist. The subjects and themes of my paintings are inspired by neuroscience, people I have met, and nature.