Photosynthesis

CREATED BY REBECCA TORRES

“My name is Rebecca Torres, and I'm a senior Genetics & Genomics major. I love art as much as I love biology, and I enjoy exploring what I learn in my classes through my art. 

My piece, “Photosynthesis,” celebrates energy transfer in producers as the foundation for life. Photosynthesis is the transfer of light energy to chemical energy, so I wanted to incorporate light directly into my piece. I really enjoyed the challenge of creating a piece that would let as much light through as possible. 

The leaves are designed to mimic stained glass, because I always thought stained glass art looked like it was made of cells. I’ve always been drawn towards and fascinated by biology at the cellular level, and I wanted to evoke leaf cells, the main site of photosynthesis in plants. The leaves are made of polymer clay “frames” filled with hot glue that was then colored with clear glue mixed with alcohol ink. The background was made by painting alcohol ink directly on the glass and distressing with rubbing alcohol. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue wavelengths of light most strongly, so I emphasized those colors in the background.”