This work is one of a very few non-human tissues that I have created. Flight muscle is the most powerful type of muscle, to cope with the aerobic demands of flying the balance of muscle fibres and mitochondria has to be optimal. Here we see flight muscle from a bird in a transverse cut
The original mitochondria in action is now stuck to the wall in University Colleague London. It works very well in ties, and there are currently three in the whole world. They are extremely loud, but surprisingly, mitochondrial scientists, not normally known for bright ties, do like them a lot.
This is one of the images belonging to a series of historical mitochondrial works. I find the early biologists and microscope pioneers views, descriptions, drawings and photos extremely charming. I pride myself on the fact that my art is informed, as far as I can manage, on the current state of knowledge of its subjects. Some of these pioneers knew what they were looking at, others didn’t or were profoundly mistaken. Still, their images and descriptions speak volumes, and I pay homage to them in this series.
Altmann’s bioblasts are a favourite of mine. I have re-interpreted them in colours, with light boxes, in black and white, silver and gold… It is such a simple and organic looking image and lends itself to a myriad of ways to be presented. Bioblast was the first name used to describe mitochondria, and what a name it is!
This piece is a homage to Lehninger, of the ‘Principles of Biochemistry’ fame. It is part of the series of Homage to pioneers, made for an exhibition at the Oroboros Museum of Scientific Art in Innsbruck.