as we melt, we grow
At birth, we already carry virtually all the neurons we need for the rest of our lives, even though our brain is still at only 25% of its adult size. When we first go to Kindergarten, our brain has almost reached its full size, but its development does not stop until we are 20 years old. But even later on our brain never stops changing.
Furthermore, we form at the beginning of our lives synapses between the neurons faster than ever. In fact, we produce far more synapses than we need and this allows us to learn anything much faster than adults do.
The more often a synapse is used to practice an act or to conceive an idea, the stronger the synapse becomes. This means that whatever is used often, such as speech and walking, it will be rooted in our brains since childhood, and what is neglected will disappear.
All school books. All this information. Everything we learned and afterwards forgot, it is somewhere hidden, between inactive brain synapses. And maybe so, if we let them thaw and melt, they might be able to fertilize something new. Maybe they can be transformed into something alive again.
Part of the exhibition FROZEN EDUCATION
As we melt, we grow, 2018
Paper, water, seeds, soils, glass cabinet, freezer
200 x 50 x 50 cm