View the latest Ed Beaty Hall Art Exhibit, "Culture and Chromosomes: The Nefertiti Vanitas Series," featuring works by Aims Art Professor Sonya PauKune from Feb. 1 - March 7.

Artist Statement:

"Exploration, scholarly pursuits, and family have encouraged my overall interest and visual vernacular in how history, culture and identity inspire the world we live in. When I received a DNA test from a family member the 
results were different than expected and fairly dissimilar from my full biological sister. Surprised by the results, I decided to combine my visual dialogue on culture with DNA to discuss how they help define who I am. 

As a visual communicator, I always want to tell a story and have been intrigued with cultures from around the globe since the beginning of my artistic journey. I enjoy comparing and contrasting the way divergent cultures approach life and death through symbols and storytelling. With these seven visual stories I explore how chromosomes and culture combinations influence a culture. The concept of Nature (DNA) verses Nurture (Culture) plays a role in work and they also embody the concept of a vanitas painting, a genre started in the 17th century Netherlands. This style uses symbols to illustrate the vanity of life and earthly pleasure with the inevitable mortality of us all. 

The work in this presentation merges my personal, historical and cultural iconography with my biological DNA with the European Vanitas concept that embraces the idea that every living thing on the planet is going to eventually die. The world is also composed of the four basic DNA chromosome pairs: Adenine=metal, Cytosine=clay, Thymine=wood and Guanine=plastic, that are the connection to the building blocks of our world and my overall story."

Join us for an Artist's Reception on Thursday, Feb. 29, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.