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Neural Network of Memories

Type
Acrylic on canvas
Year
2024 - 2025

Inspiration and composition

Neural Network of Memories is a vibrant acrylic painting that visualizes the mystery and complexity of the science behind memory formation and retrieval. Using a combination of techniques, including wet paint dripping to create intricate neural patterns, Braams aimed to depict the abstract networks in which our memories are encoded. The painting’s background features deep reddish-brown tones, reminiscent of the colour on the retina that appears when closing one’s eyes to recall a memory (try it!). Layered over this are neon green and yellow lines representing active neural networks, contrasted with darker, inactive pathways to emphasize the dynamic nature of memory processes. 

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The artwork was influenced by Braams’s academic research on visual working memory and her fascination with how the brain stores and retrieves moments that no longer physically exist. The painting reflects her attempt to represent the invisible: the neural activity that preserves vivid images of the past within the vast and intricate network of the brain. 

Connection to 'Mysteries in Science'

This piece explores one of neuroscience’s greatest enigmas: the ability to hold onto memories, intangible yet deeply personal. Through abstract art, Braams offers a visual representation of the neural circuitry underlying memory, encouraging viewers to think about the wonder how the brain transforms fleeting moments into lasting impressions. 

By blending art and science, Neural Network of Memories  invites a broader audience to engage with the complexity of neuroscience. Braams hopes the work sparks individual interpretations, drawing attention to the intersection of memory, perception, and imagination. Through this piece, she demonstrates the power of art to illuminate the hidden mechanisms that shape our lives and experiences. 

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About Julia Braams

The Artist

The Netherlands

Julia Braams is a Master’s student in Neuroscience and Cognition at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Utrecht University, with special interests in interdisciplinary approaches to science. Although trained in art during her high school years, Braams put her creative work on hold while pursuing an academic career. Neural Network of Memories â€¯marks her first project that merges her artistic and scientific skills, reflecting her curiosity about the brain’s enigmatic processes and her commitment to making science accessible through art. 

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