‘At the Axis of Origins’, 2025.
Mixed media on canvas, 70 x 50 cm.

This painting, created in honor of Anne Ephrussi’s impressive scientific career, depicts a portion of a Drosophila ovariole arranged along a diagonal composition. The central element, inspired by a late stage-nine egg chamber, is framed by fragments of earlier- and later-stage egg chambers in the upper left and lower right corners, respectively.

The main chamber is divided into two regions. On the left, the nurse cells are rendered in vibrant greens and blues, traversed by vivid red and orange lines that evoke the dynamic presence of microtubules, essential for mRNA transport. On the right, the oocyte unfolds, constructed from fragments of Anne’s scientific publications interwoven with cutouts from Günter Grass’s The Tin Drum. At the posterior pole of the oocyte, the oskar protein is represented through one of the book’s most iconic cover images, physically collaged into the painting. Oskar—the character—with his drum, is repeated and carefully placed along the reddish-orange crescent where oskar—the protein—accumulates. This foreshadows the protein’s crucial developmental role in the embryo, where it directs germ plasm assembly and initiates the formation of germ cells and the abdomen. The developmental consequences of oskar’s absence resonate with the literary Oskar, who, refusing to grow, instead chooses to beat his drum in defiance of a silent world.

Saturated, high-contrast colors intensify the biological structures, while the dark, irregular background creates depth, bringing the central forms into focus and recalling the aesthetic of fluorescent microscopy images. The mixed-media approach combines acrylic paint, collaged fragments of scientific articles and literature, and experimental textural techniques, using a wide range of materials—acrylic, detergent, leaves, tape, and film—to generate diverse visual effects. This approach adds both surface richness and conceptual depth, weaving together layers of knowledge and imagination. The lush palette of yellows, greens, blues, and fiery reds and oranges evokes the dynamic vitality of life unfolding within the egg chamber. This piece intertwines science and literature, precision and creativity, paying tribute to Anne Ephrussi’s remarkable legacy through a visual language that celebrates both discovery and storytelling.