Finalist- Maquette: Sculpture Award, 2025, McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery, Langwarrin, VIC

Pili draws inspiration from bacterial conjugation — the exchange of genetic material through a bridge-like connection between cells. This sculptural series features pairs of vibrant, organic forms joined by translucent, faceted plastic tubes. Within each tube, strand-like structures hint at invisible transmissions: material, memory, or mutation in motion. 

My art practice is shaped by my work as a medical scientist, where I study viruses and bacteria using an electron microscope. The work stems from observing the subtle, complex mechanisms that enable communication and transformation at the microscopic level. In Pili, scientific observation meets imaginative abstraction, translating biological processes into vivid sculptural relationships.

The irregular, textured forms resemble cellular bodies, while the connecting tubes suggest conduits of exchange. Their faceted surfaces obscure what lies within, prompting closer inspection. By reimagining a scientific phenomenon as a strange, playful sculptural pairing, Pili invites reflection on interconnection, cooperation, and the unseen forces that link all life.