Blueprints of the Cosmos

The translucent figures in Ricardo Guixà’s photographs explore the perceptions behind the human psyche and how it intricately intertwines with the stars. Nilofer Khan reveals.

- Nilofer Khan

Carl Sagan, an astronomer and planetary scientist, was keen on understanding the origins of humans. Following his decades-long research in this field, he discovered the parallels between us and the universe. In his book, Cosmos, he eloquently sums up his theory, “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.”

When you look at Ricardo Guixà’s series Melothesia, you will realise there is so much more than meets the eye. His portraits showcase several multiverses within us that constantly pulsate with energy. “Fractal shapes fascinated me because of their strange universal nature. They are at all scales of reality—brain neurons, cosmic macrostructures, passing through the veins of a leaf and the branches of trees, or the intricate networks of blood capillaries that circulate through our bodies,” he explains.

A Correlation Between Past and Present

The human mind has always harboured a curiosity for the unknown. Using various techniques and processes, Ricardo has been trying to understand and unveil this enigma. “My work explores the frontiers of photography from an existentialist perspective. The mediums I employ are sculpture, painting, X-rays, or multi spectral cameras to show a more complex and fascinating reality beyond the reach of our visual perception,” he says.