Pneuma

Completed during my final semester at Redeemer University, Pneuma is a visual exploration of where our essence might reside. It examines the elusive intersection of body, soul, and scientific inquiry. Neuroanatomical illustrations chronicle theories from the 15th century to present, while a mummified figure emanates a luminous energy of being. This exhibition invites curiosity and fascination into the mystery of this trifecta. This was displayed as part of the group exhibition Beyond This Moment, held at Redeemer University from April 5th - May 23rd, 2025.

A sculpture of a humanoid figure made from a papery material, with an exposed skull and skeletal features on the face, illuminated with colorful lights reflecting on its surface.
Framed medical illustration of a human brain with highlighted blue areas.
Illustration of a human brain showing detailed neural pathways with a vertical illuminated strip running down the center.
Line drawing of the human nervous system, showcasing the brain, spinal cord, and network of nerves.
An anatomical diagram of a human skull and brain with colored lines indicating pathways, framed in wood.
Line drawing of a human brain with a blue-lit central area and enclosed in a black wooden frame.

Science, philosophy, faith, and art once comprised a unified pursuit of understanding. Pneuma looks back to the time of polymaths when these topics were not seen as opposing forces but as complementary paths to truth. The illustrations follow the history of Western medicine, where we see faith and science falling farther away from each other. Much of the sciences aim to understand the material realm while faith acts as an exercise in trusting in the spiritual. What if there is a physical location within the human body where our soul resides? This “seat of the soul,” as Pythagoras calls it, is explored by incredibly intelligent figures, each theorizing different structures in the brain.  

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)  -  Optic Chiasm

René Descartes (1596-1650)  -  Pineal Gland

Giovanni Lancisi (1654-1720)  -  Corpus Callosum

Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777)  -  Brainstem

Susan Greenfield (1997)  -  Neurotransmitter Pathways


These elements are delicately rendered using soft blue ink over fine linework. Each illustration emphasizes one aspect of the brain with a faint red outline, the focus of study. Light emanates from these anatomical forms, symbolizing the soul’s presence extending beyond material understanding. A decrepit body, hovering just above the ground, holds these same soul lights within its chest, flickering with color, resisting decay.


Ink is my chosen medium because its fluidity, like knowledge and spirituality, moves unpredictably but can be guided with careful intention. The paper itself is lightly yellowed with an acrylic wash to emphasize the mortality of each drawing. Pneuma brings together science and something more, a reminder that knowledge is fluid, ever-expanding, and deeply interconnected.

Exhibition poster for 'Beyond This Moment: Senior Art Exhibit 2025' featuring the names of participating artists and images of various artworks.
Group of seven women and one man at an art exhibit, smiling and posing for a photo in front of a sign that reads 'Beyond the Moment, Senior Art Exhibit 2023.' The man is kneeling in front, wearing glasses and a light blue plaid blazer, while the women are standing behind him, wearing mostly black and smiling.
People attending an art exhibit observing framed artwork on a white gallery wall, with some engaged in conversation and others looking at the art.
A woman with long curly red hair, glasses, and earrings is smiling while holding a microphone in a room with plain white walls.
An art installation of a humanoid figure with an exposed skeletal structure and a human skull face, illuminated with colorful lights, displayed indoors with framed artwork in the background.
A woman with long curly red hair and glasses standing beside a framed medical illustration of a brain, showing neural pathways with red and blue lines, in an exhibition or medical display setting.