Family and the Cosmos is inspired by the relationship between our families’ DNA and the planetary patterns within the galaxy, the parallels between the microscopic and the massive. The iconic double helix formation attributed to DNA is remarkably similar to Earth’s elliptical orbit, evoking the prominent hermetic maxim: as above, so below. This philosophy derives from the hermetic text of the Emerald Tablet, “The universe is the same as God, God is the same as man, man is the same as the cell, ad infinitum.” The relationship between the microcosm of an individual’s family biology and the macrocosm of the unimaginable universe is key to this understanding; the mural brings together that which is too small and that which is too large for the human eye to perceive in a vibrant and colorful kaleidoscopic map.

From a distance, the patterns and composition of the mural appear in broad strokes, but as the viewer approaches, specific details of intimate personal objects encapsulated into the resin become visible. The collection incorporates all facets of daily life: professional business cards, romantic love letters, rebellious rock albums, even ordinary instruction manuals. This creates a sense of discovery as the viewer can parse the small characteristics that compose a larger individual. The viewer’s movement and personal perception thus become part of the experience of the artwork, connecting the history associated with genetics to the dynamic present existence of a human being.

Liberia San Angel, a public cultural house in Mexico City, commissioned this large format piece for placement in their building where middle class citizens come to study and read. It is home to a community in search of knowledge, whether that be through spiritual contemplation of ourselves or scientific research of the universe. Both understandings are symbiotic in this larger exploration of the world.

The mural is tri-dimensional and includes different glass and resin shapes suspended by metal structures attached to the wooden boards. The technique proposes a visual discourse by challenging perception of depth and embracing a range of textures: oil, tiles, silver leaves, resin, and glass, among others. These mixed media create a sense of optic playfulness in the final work and thematically enhance the sense of a place where science meets mythos.