During my research into how mindfulness affects different parts of the brain, and how they in turn affect parts or functions of the body, I realised that most images of brains are created for the purposes of neuroscience study. This means that for people outside of the field of medicine, diagrams such as the ones shown below lose a bit of comprehension and, though informative, are a little dry visually. When explaining mindfulness, I realised that the neuroscience behind it is key to helping explain the benefits of it.
The usual approach to promoting benefits of mindfulness involves a lot of imagery under the themes of "nature", "mind and body" etc etc., when in fact there are so many facts there which could help persuade the classic "skeptic" into taking up the practice. I feel it is important to find a way to present that information in a way that is easy to digest for a person with a non-medical background and looks visually nice. The images below are examples of the direction I DON'T necessarily want to go in, even if the content and information will stay the same.
Some medical neuroscience illustrations
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| Fig 1.1 |
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| Fig 1.2 |
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| Fig 1.3 |
While looking at the neuroscience side of things, I also found some great examples of how the emotional side of the brain has been shown in illustration projects, so in this section of the post I will briefly look at them and see if there are more creative ways I could put across the data in my own work.
Serge Siedlitz for Ruby Wax and personal work
Siedlitz' illustrations for Ruby Wax balances the emotional, thought-led side of the brain with the science diagram elements in the illustration below. His style is cartoony and bright, which makes the subject matter easier to take in and fun to look at.
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| Fig 2.1 |
The top-down angle is something I have yet to explore - interesting way to visually link the brain to the person in the viewer's mind.
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| Fig 2.2 |
Ditto the photograph/illustration mix - a nice touch of realism in the mix.
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| Fig 2.3 |
Simon Prades
Prades' dreamy illustrations present "inner thoughts" scenarios which, while far removed from the science approach I speak about above, are gorgeous to look at. The office worker piece is a great representation of someone whose mind is always concerned with their job or tasks.
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| Fig 3.1 |
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| Fig 3.2 |
Serg Maltsev
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| Fig 4 |
Gorgeously detailed work by Serg Maltsev has a handcrafted feel to it and incorporates text into the illustration. I think there would be too much detail to work into an informative piece but I wonder if there are ways to bring the tactile feel seen here into my current work. The way the organs are presented is so opposite to the sterile textbook drawings, I love it.
Mathieu de Steur
Similarly, Mathieu de Steur illustrates bodily organs in a charming style, relating their functions to machinery. By linking the body parts to machines they are almost personalised, which as well as being very cute helps the viewer to consider their functions in a new light. The angles of these drawings might be effective in some of the diagrams I am working on. |
| Fig 5 |
References
Fig 1.1 Unknown. [online] Available at: http://m.inmagine.com/image-drk004625-Cross-section-illustration-of-human-brain-showing-limbic-system-and-primitive-forebrain.html
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 1.2 Unknown
Fig 1.3 Unknown. Mindfulness.org [online] Available at: http://www.mindfulnet.org/page25.htm
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 2.1 Siedlitz, Serge. 2014. Ruby Wax's 'Sane New World'. [online] Available at: http://www.sergeseidlitz.com/link.php?id=138
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 2.2 Siedlitz, Serge. 2011. Bayer. [online] Available at:
http://www.sergeseidlitz.com/link.php?id=95
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 2.3 Siedlitz, Serge. 2011. How my girlfriends brain works, or what Jane thinks when she thinks about thinking. [online] Available at: http://www.sergeseidlitz.com/link.php?id=107
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 3.1 Prades, Simon. 2015. Recent Illustrations 2 [online] Available at:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/22845539/RECENT-ILLUSTRATIONS-2
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 3.2 Prades, Simon. 2015. Recent Illustrations 2 [online] Available at:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/22845539/RECENT-ILLUSTRATIONS-2
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 4 Maltsev, Serge. 2014. brain + heart = corton [online] Available at:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/17375723/brainheartcorton
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
Fig 5 de Steur, Mathieu. 2014. The industrious anatomy [online] Available at:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/19764921/The-industrious-anatomy
[Accessed 15 Feb 2015]
http://www.sergeseidlitz.com
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