Tumor and Cell
2022Lighting installation
The cell is the quintessential part of the human body. It works to fuel and regenerate. The tumor is the antithesis of the cell, though it is dependent on its existence. Drawing from my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, I chose to base the fixture upon the relationship between the tumor and the cell. Using all reusable and recyclable materials, the fixture consists of repurposed paper and gauze. Reusable paper shows how the cells in my mother’s body regenerated after her chemotherapy. The cancerous structure (right) stands to represent the tumor that grew from the healthy existing cell (left), illustrated through the one perfect bulb. By employing natural colors and materials, life and body are mimicked. The wires interconnect to demonstrate the veins that connect all cells. As cancer grows from the healthy cell by multiplying atop it, the healthy cell (left) begins to morph into the cancerous tumor (right). Light remains perfect and bright white in the healthy cell, as a good cell stays constant. Opposing it, the cancerous cell flickers aggressively and inconsistently, flashing yellow and white, thus demonstrating the harmful effects of cancer and its fear-inducing quality. The illumination of the healthy cell upon the cancerous light illustrates how the power of the healthy cell can prevail thus showing my mother's survival of her battle with breast cancer, and in turn, the cycle of the cell.