SciencetoArtWorksbyGopalMurti

March18–May13,2016

GALLERYGUIDE

Fornearly40yearsMurtistudiedthebiologicalworld-rangingfrommoleculestotissues-usingconfocal,multi-photonandelectronmicroscopes.Hisimagesreceivedawardsandadornedthecoversofover30scientificjournalsaswellasTimemagazine.Afterretirementin2008,Murtibecameawatercolorpainter,movingfromtechnologytopaintandbrushestocreateworksofart.ThisexhibitionhighlightsMurti’sworkbothasascientistaswellandanartistandthetransitionseenthroughhisprocesses.LearnmoreaboutGopalatwww.artofgopalmurti.com

HotDogandSpaghettiTransmissionElectronMicrograph,1970Framed34x28inches,$400

ThisimageisthatofDNAleakingoutofarupturedE.colibacterium.E.colihasacircularDNAmoleculethatmeasuresabout1500microns(1micron=0.001millimeter)anditissqueezedintoashellthatisabout0.5x2.0microns.ItisatechnicalfeattoachievecontrolleddisruptionofthisbugsothatyoucanpreservetheshellandtheDNA.Tomyknowledge,thereisnootherpicturecomparabletothisandithasbeenusedinhundredsofBiologyandMedicaltextbooks,genetic

engineeringbrochuresetc.ThisisprobablythemostpopularpicturethatIeverproduced.Thisimagewonmultipleawardsinscientificphotographycompetitions.

Thereisastorybehindthispicture.In1973,J.D.Watson(yes,theNobelLaureate)invitedmetotheColdSpringHarborSymposium(LongIsland,N.Y.)tospeakonchromosomestructure.AsIwasbrowsingthroughtheirinstitutionalbookstore,IsawaTshirtwithamassiveDNAmoleculeimprintedonit.ThetitlewasE.coliDNAandtheimagewasproducedbyDr.RuthKavenoff.ImetheratthereceptionandcongratulatedheronthefineimagebutIsaidthatthepicturewouldhavebeenspectacularifshepreservedtheshellofthebug.ShesaidthatitisimpossibletodosobecauseconditionsthatpreservetheshellwillnotreleasetheDNA.ItoldherthatIwouldgiveitatry.IusedastrainofE.colithatisosmotically“shockable”andtriedabout10timesdisruptingthousandsofbacteriabeforeIgotthispicture.IachievedcontrolledlysisofthebacteriumtoreleasetheDNAwhilekeepingmostoftheshellintact.IinitiallyusedfoodcolorstopainttheDNAandtheshellonaphotographbutIupdatedtheimagewithPhotoshop20yearslater.

HumanChromosomesScanningElectronMicrograph,1992Framed30x24inches,$350

ThesearefhumanMetaphaseChromosomescolorizedinPhotoshop.Justtomakeitpleasingtotheeye,eachchromosomewastintedwithdifferentcolor.EachofthesechromosomesiscomposedoftwoChromatids(onearmofthe“X”)andeachChromatidisalongcoiledDNAmoleculecomplexedwithprotein.IntheMetaphasestageofcelldivision,thetwohalvesofthechromosomesarepulledtooppositepolestoformtwodaughtercells.Abnormalchromosomes,wherebrokenpiecesare

exchangedbetweenchromosomes(translocations),cancausecancer.CytologistscanidentifytheseabnormalitiesbyviewingthechromosomesofMetaphasecellsunderthemicroscopeandMolecularBiologistscandeterminetheprecisechangesinDNAbasepairsbysequencingtheDNA.

HumanRedBloodCellsScanningElectronMicrograph,2000Framed30x20inches,$350

Thesearehumanredbloodcells.Redbloodcellsorerythrocyteshavetheshapeofbiconcavediscsandareoneofthemostimportantcellsinourbody.Theyhavenonucleusandhaveaniron-containingHemoglobinproteinthatcanbindoxygen.Astheredbloodcellstraversethebody,theydeliveroxygentothetissues.DefectsinredbloodcellscausemajordiseaseslikeSickleCellAnemia.Thisisaninterestingimageofredbloodcells.We(myassistantKenBarnesandI)triedtomakethecellslookasclosetotheirnativestateaspossible.Weaddeda“blur”toeachcell(ofcourse,withPhotoshop)asiftheyaremovinginsidetheblood.

CiliatedProtozoanScanningElectronMicrograph,2002Framed40x30inches,$450

Thesebugsaresingle-celledorganismsthatliveinponds.TheyarecalledOxytricha(acloserelativeisParamecium)andIsubmittedmyPh.Dthesisonthechromosomesofthesebugs.Inthe1970s,Imadesomewildobservationsonthesebugsandbecameacelebrityscientist.Dr.TomCechwonaNobelPrizeinChemistry*in1989byshowingtheenzymaticcapabilityofRNA(Ribozyme)--hisexperimentalsystemwasarelatedciliatedprotozoan,Tetrahymena.HelateronshiftedtoOxytrichaandtomy

Almamatter(followingsomeofmystudies)andmademanymoreimportantdiscoveriesespeciallyconcerningtheendsofchromosomesorTelomeres.Telomeresarenowshowntobeimportantincancerandageing.AllthisgoestoshowthatlowlyunknownbugsinyourlocalpondcanyieldaNobelPrize(ifyouareasmartscientist!).

*TheNobelPrizeinChemistryhasbeenawarded107timesto172NobelLaureatesbetween1901and2015.

DividingCellsConfocalMicrograph,2003Framed40x30inches,$450

ThesearedividingHeLatissueculturecells.TheDNA(nucleus,chromosomes)waslabeledpinkandthemicrotubules(spindle)werelabeledyellowusingfluorescentdyes.Byafortunatecoincidence,youcanseecellsineverystageofcelldivisioninthisimage.InProphaThesese,thechromosomesbegintocondenseandthetwopoles(asters)form.InMetaphase,thespindleformsandthechromosomesalignat

thecenter.Then,inAnaphase,thechromosomesarepulledaparttooppositepoles.OnceinTelophase,amembranestartsenvelopingthechromosomesatoppositepoles,andthecytoplasmbeginstopinchinthemiddle.Finallythetwodaughtercellsseparate.

NeuronsMultiphotonMicrograph,2006Framed30x20inches,$350

Neuronsarethecellsinthebrain.Theyareresponsibleforelectricalandchemicalsignaltransmissionandformanextensivenetworkemanatingfromthebrain.Structurally,theyhavea“head”orthecellbodywhichcontainsthenucleus,anda“tail”whichiscalledaxonandcouldmeasureasmuchasonemeter.Theheadhasbranchesordendriteswhichinterconnectwithaxonsofotherneuronsforminganextensivenetworkthattransmitschemicalandelectricalsignalsthroughoutthebody.Ourresponsetostimuli(light,sound,touch)andourmovementsareallcarriedoutbysignalsbetweenbrainandbodymediatedbyneurons.

Atoka(TN)SpringSwingWatercoloronpaper,2011Framed32x25inches,$500

IfindmanyincrediblelandscapesubjectsinandaroundMemphis.MyfavoriteareasareShelbyFarms,LichtermanCenter,MississippiRiveretc.Onespring,Ivisitedafriend’sfarminAtokaandwasblownawaybythebeautifulscenerythere.Istartedthispaintingwiththetireswingbecauseitsymbolizes(forme)simple,easy,care-free

andlaid-backlife.SlowlyIaddedtherestofthescenery.Iparticularlylikedincludingthecowsandtheirslow-pacedlifeprocesses.

StressReliefWatercoloronPaper,2012Framed38x27inches,$600

Awoman,purplecurtains,glasswindow,lightandshadewereallcommondenominatorstosixpaintingsIdidovertheyears.Ineachoneofthesepaintings,thewomenwereinastateofemotionalturmoil.Inthispainting,theladyisstressedbutasareliefsheisplayingthepiano.Theideaisderivedfrommyyoungestdaughterwhowouldrunhomefromschoolandstartsplayingpiano.Bythesongsheplayed

onecanguessifshehadagoodorbaddayatschool.ThewomaninthepaintingdoesnottotallyresembleanybodyinmyfamilybutsharessomeIndianfeatures.

EquiModestusWatercoloronpaper,2013Framed39x27inches,$500

ThisisratherauniquepaintingbecauseitincorporatesmytrainingasaScientist(BiologicalSciences).IwasamedicalresearcheratSt.Judeforover3decadesandmyspecialtywastoimagetissues,cells,cellpartsandmolecules(DNAandProtein)usingpowerfulmicroscopesincludingtheelectronmicroscope,whichletsyoutolookatobjectsmagnifieduptoamilliontimes.Ifyou(withsomebiologybackground)look

closelyatthispainting,youwillnoticethesquigglythreadsofDNAinthebackground,andpatchesoftissueculturecellsattheupperrightandlowerleftcorners.Additionally,youmaybeabletorecognizecellpartslikeendoplasmicreticulum,lysosomes,myelinfigures,Golgicomplexetc.onthebodiesofhorses.

Tabagie-St.JeanWatercoloronpaper,2013Framed28x22inches,$400

About2yearsago,IwenttoQuebec(Canada)inearlyDecember.Thetemperaturewasbelowzeroandtherewerepilesofsnowonthecurb.Itwassunnyandbrightbutthathadnoeffectonsnoworcold.Needlesstosay,Iremainedinthehotelandnevercameouttillitwastimetogotoairport.Itisamazingthatthelocalpeoplewereleastbotheredbytheweather.Iwaslookingacrossmyhotelwindowataconvenience(Tobacco)storeandfoundtwowomenwindowshopping.Theywerelookingateverythingtransfixedformorethananhour.Ishotsomephotosofthemjusttorememberthelegendaryhumanendurance.WhenIwaslookingthrougholdphotos,IfeltIhavetoimmortalizethewomenthroughmypainting.

AnticipationWatercoloronpaper,2013Framed38x26inches,$500

IwaswatchinganewsitemaboutthereturnofoursoldiersfromIraq.Itisaverymovingscenewithmen,womenandchildrenrunningtomeettheirspouses,fathers,mothers,sonsanddaughters.Thereweremanytearspunctuatedbylaughter.Isawaverypregnantwomanslowlymakingherwaytowardsthearrivingsoldiers.Shewas

searchinghardforherhusband/boyfriendamongthesoldiersbutcouldnotfindhim.Shestoodtherecryingandthatbrokemyheart.Eventuallyhermancamerunningandhuggedhertightly.Itwasahappyending.ThisscenetriggeredmypaintingentitledAnticipation.Here,theladyisanticipatingthearrivalofthelittlebundleofjoyorthereturnofhersoldierhusbandorboth.This,forme,isaveryspecial(andhaunting)painting.

IfMLKWeretoMeetMKGWatercoloronpaper,2013Framed33x26inches,(NFS)

ThisisafantasypaintingbecauseDr.KingandMahatmaGandhibelongtotwodifferentgenerationsandnevermet.Dr.KingwasateenagerwhenGandhidied.Dr.Kingpracticedthenon-violentcivildisobediencemovementstartedbyGandhiandbroughtseachangesintheracerelationshipsintheUSA.GandhiwasassassinatedbyaradicalHindu,whowasagainstGandhi’steachingsofsecularism.Likewise,Dr.King

wasassassinatedbyradicalwhodidnotlikeracialequality.Ifthesetwoweretomeet,GandhiwouldhavelovedDr.Kingimmenselyandwouldhavegivenhimabear-hug.Mr.ArunGandhi,aGrandsonofMahatmaGandhi,oncesaidthatDr.KingwasmorequalifiedtobethegrandsonofMahatmaGandhithanhimself!

PedisMaximusWatercoloronpaper,2013Framed39x27inches,$500

Iabsolutelyadorepaintingthiskindofalandscape.Thisisallcompletelymadeup,addingmorestuffasIcontinued(i.e.,notwellthoughtout).OnepurposeofthispaintingistofigureoutifIcanpaintsnowintheforest.AtthistimeIwasstillalearnerandeverythingwasachallengeforme.Thispaintinghassomethinghiddenin

it.TheclueistheLatintitle.Seeifyoucanfigureout.Overtheyears,only2or3peoplefoundit.

PanniStesiSulCanaleWatercoloronpaper,2014Framed40x27inches,$700

TranslatedintoEnglish,thisItaliantitlesimplymeans“laundrydryingoverthecanal”.ThissceneryispaintedfromareferencephotofrommyItaliancollection.Actualphotoisquitedullandlookedblackandwhite.Iintroducedalotofcolorintothepaintingbypaintingthebuildingsindifferentcolorsandbypaintingtheirreflections

inthewater.Therearemanyhumanfigureshiddeninthispainting.Seeifyoucanfindthem.Idon’tparticularlylikethispaintingbecauseitlooksmuddyandgaudy.Howeverthiswasahitwithjudgesbecauseitgarneredmultipleawardsinlocalandnationalshows.

QuagmireWatercolor/DigitalPhotography,2014Framed38x27inches,$300

ThispaintingisaproductofbothScienceandArt.Theobjectsinthepaintingareneuronsinamousebrain.Iphotographedtheneuronsinamicroscopeandpaintedthemonpaperapplyingdifferentcolors.IdigitizedtheimageandincreaseditscomplexityinPhotoshop.Finally,Igottheimageprintedonphotographicpaper.FormeitlookslikeapaintingbyJacksonPollock.

IntheBeginningWatercolorcollageonpaper,2015Framed38x27inches,$500

Onehastoreallyspendsometimelookingatthispaintingtofigureoutwhatitis..ThispaintingwasinspiredbythePaleolithicart(40thousandyearsago)fromallovertheworld.Mostofthisartisseenincavesandusuallydepictsthelifestyleofhumansatthattime.Mostofthesubjectmatterconcernstheirprimaryavocation,huntingof

deer,horses,bison,mammothsetc.Thehumansarepaintedlikestickfigures.Thispaintingshowssomeofthisandinaddition,showstheheadmaninaprocession(seeifyoucanfindit).

AnyoneforKabuki?Watercoloronpaper,2015Framed40x30inches,$800

ThisisthePaintingofascorpionfish,amostcolorfulspeciesoffishfoundintheIndo-Pacificwaters.Fiftyplusyearsago,IwasaMarineBiologistinIndiawithaMaster’sdegree(beforeImovedtoUSandchangedintoCellandMolecularBiology).Formydissertation,IhadtosurveythefaunaandfloraofanareaonthecoastofBayofBengal.Duringafieldtrip,Isawthisstrangefishwithfluorescentcolorsandbat-like,

out-stretchedfins(andanuglyface)swimminginatidalpool.Itriedtopickitupbyscoopingitinmyhands,notrealizingthatthefishisvenomousandcansting.NextthingIrememberwasthepiercingpaininmyhand.Recently,whenIfelttheurgetopaintahighlycolorfulpainting,Irememberedthefish.Istudiedmanyphotosofthefishandcameupwiththisimage.Fred,mymentor,thoughtthatitsfaceremindedhimofthegaudy,paintedfaceofaJapaneseKabukidancerandhencethetitle.