In an art world often focused on mammals, visual artist Maria Lux has sought to shine a light on snakes and their significant contributions to medicine with her exhibition, “Heart and Mind, Blood and Nerves” at the Carnation Contemporary gallery in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood.
Opened on July 5 and running through July 27, the exhibition showcases a variety of installations and black-and-red collages that aim to alter the often negative perceptions of these cold-blooded creatures.
Lux’s work serves as a reminder of the dual nature of snakes: a source of fear and a valuable asset in medical advancements.
The exhibition pays homage not only to snakes but also to the researchers who extract lifesaving medicines from snake venom.
Shelves within the gallery feature several pill bottles that detail antivenoms and snake-derived pharmaceuticals, each labeled with pertinent information about how specific species of snakes have contributed to saving human lives.
The bottles are color-coded, where finalized medicines are distinct from those still in clinical trials, highlighting the venoms’ potential to treat serious conditions including strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.
This educational aspect of Lux’s work offers viewers fascinating insights into pharmaceutical and zoological knowledge.
Accompanying the installations are intricate collages that blend grayscale and red-tone images, which evoke a historical and scientific context—though specific titles and explanations were not readily available during the exhibition’s opening.
For instance, one collage titled “Mind and Nerves” merges human brain diagrams with images of vipers and Medusa, symbolically intertwining the anatomy of our minds with cultural interpretations of snakes.
Lux’s work suggests a deeper commentary on the challenge of understanding our relationship with these serpents.
Beyond snakes, Lux also acknowledges the roles of other animals in medical research.
One piece, “The Making of Anti-Venom,” recognizes the horses used for synthesizing antivenom, illustrating how their size was believed to both protect them from venom’s harmful effects while also yielding a sufficient supply of snake antidotes.
Another artwork, “In Vitro Tests,” highlights the contribution of lab mice to the study of poison, hinting at the complex moral implications of such practices.
Lux also explores the intersection of mysticism and biology, demonstrated in her piece “Mother Mary,” which features a red snake outline beneath a traditional depiction of the Virgin Mary.
Drawing parallels between Mary’s virgin birth and the phenomenon of snakes reproducing via parthenogenesis, Lux urges viewers to reconsider preconceived notions of purity and creation.
Additionally, “Existential Snakes” contemplates the caduceus—the dual serpent symbol frequently associated with medicine—arguing that it reflects ancient concepts that now echo in modern genetics.
In a provocative twist, “David and Goliath” connects the evolution of snake venom with religious narratives, presenting a homoerotic male torso alongside commentary about the nature of linguistic and biological power.
One of the standout installations in the exhibition showcases a giant snake coiled around a pile of fruits emerging from a suburban house.
This surreal piece captures the viewer’s imagination, presenting a dreamlike yet potentially nightmarish vision that casts snakes in a new light.
A single red apple on a nearby shelf evokes the Garden of Eden, challenging traditional perceptions of snakes as merely symbols of temptation and sin.
While Lux’s exhibition might not wholly dispel the fears surrounding snakes—known as ophidiophobia—it invites viewers to engage with their fears in a constructive way.
By highlighting the critical impact of snakes in medicine and the ecological and ethical complexities surrounding their existence, Lux’s exhibit offers a unique perspective that celebrates both serpents and the researchers who work with them.
This summer, “Heart and Mind, Blood and Nerves” serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of overcoming fear through understanding, while celebrating the invaluable contributions of our scaly companions.
Visitors are encouraged to explore this thought-provoking exhibition and perhaps learn something new for their next trivia night.
image source from：wweek
