Science & Art

Different forms of mandalas are found in ethnographic depictions of the universe from different cultures as an abstraction of the perceivable order and governing laws in nature. Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung recognised their therapeutic powers and introduced mandala to western scholars. ‘’Mandala of Metamorphosis’’ takes inspiration from the dramatic developmental alterations that cabbage white butterfly Pieris brassicae undergoes during its lifetime from an egg to a caterpillar, to a pupae, to an adult individual in ever repeating perpetual natural cycles. ‘’Mandala of Metamorphosis’’ depicts the macrocosm of a living microcosm, symbolising changes, personal growth and development that prevails in the life of every individual – each of us – as a fundamental part of the larger universe. 

British author J.R.R. Tolkien created fictional continent Middle Earth, inhabited by diverse creatures. Intriguingly, Tolkien’s Middle Earth bears symbolic resemblance to human history and Earth’s geological past. Inspired by these parallels and the enormous diversity of soil microbes across the different terrestrial habitats on Earth, this composition displays a small fraction of observable soil surface microbial diversity and superimposes on the full map of Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Scientists have identified a minute fraction of soil microbes and are only beginning to understand the ecological significance of microbial functions in soils. Microbial interactions may be as complex as the dealings of the inhabitants of Middle Earth but may have as profound impact on the functioning of our planets ecosystems as the genesis by Valars in Tolkien’s novels. An observant viewer may also see different shapes and characters within this composition!

Insect eggs and hatching larvae are capable of inducing the formation of bizarre alien-looking structures on the plant surface, called galls. These structures often look like jewels decorating the photosynthetic tissues of plant leaves. Galls often completely encase the developing insect. These structures may protect the developing larvae from stress and enemies, and serve as feeding sites for the insect. Molecular mechanisms underlying the genesis of insect galls are still poorly understood. They may involve putative insect-derived molecules which manipulate plant development to the advantage of insect in the gall. This image provides a glimpse in the secret life of an insect Mikiola fagi which succeeded to form gall on beech tree Fagus silvatica.

Leaves harbour yet fully unexplored diversity of beneficial or neutral microorganisms. These symbionts may influence plant growth, development and interactions with other organisms such as herbivores or microbial pathogens. Molecular mechanisms of these complex ecological interactions largely remain yet to be discovered. The image ‘’In & Jan  of Leaf Microbiome’’ is an artistic take on the harmony and balance in relationship between microbes and plants. The composition depicts Fagus sylvatica leaf which was placed on bacterial growth (LB) media at around 25°C for 48h to visualise the emergence of a small fraction of culturable microbial symbionts in and on the leaf.

Cabbage white Pieris brassicae is butterfly that undergoes full metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to pupae (or chrysalis) to imago. Depicted is the emergence of a young adult from its pupal stage.

Eye of cabbage white (Pieris brassicae) butterfly. Adult females lay eggs on cruciferous plants, inducing complex set of plant defence responses. When caterpillars hatch from the eggs, they feed on the host plant. Because of egg induced plant responses, caterpillars can feed better and gain more weight, completely consuming the plant.