Mental Mapping explores how internal networks, such as memory, perception, and emotion, shape the way we experience and navigate the world. This exhibition delves into the intersections of neuroscience, creativity, and visual storytelling.

Reception: April 24, 2025, 6:30-8:30 PM

Artist Talk: June 10, 2025, 6-8 PM

Location: The Somerville Armory
191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA

Admission is free.

Joshua Sariñana presented his research project—Utilizing Large Language Models and Art to Represent Cognitive Networks—at the Harvard Psychiatry Research Day, exploring how spatial cognition influences identity across physical, social, and digital environments. Using large language models (LLMs) to analyze qualitative interviews, he examined how individuals navigate interconnected spaces, shaping their sense of belonging and adaptation.

The podcast episode of Culture Matters at the Urban Media Art studio features Joshua Sariñana discussing his project Mental Mapping: The Art of Exploring Connections, which bridges neuroscience, visual art, and AI to examine how individuals connect their internal experiences with their external environments.

A piece from my Mental Mapping project, Jessica TranVo, was selected for inclusion in the juried exhibition {a}temporal, presented by the Cambridge Art Association at the Kathryn Schultz Gallery.

From December 6, 2021, to February 28, 2022, The Poetry of Science was exhibited at MIT’s Rotch Gallery, presenting a dynamic blend of poetry and photography that highlights the experiences and contributions of scientists of color. Directed by Joshua Sariñana, PhD, this multimedia project merges art and science to challenge traditional narratives and foster positive associations between communities of color and the sciences. Each work pairs portraits of scientists, visually embedded into natural landscapes, with poetry that explores their research, motivations, and lives.

Joshua Sariñana, PhD ’11, merges his expertise in neuroscience, photography, and storytelling in The Poetry of Science, a public art installation advocating for racial and social justice. Supported by a Cambridge Arts Council Art for Racial Justice Grant, this multimedia project pairs scientists of color with poets of color to create collaborative works that celebrate their contributions and amplify their voices. Through portraits by Vanessa Leroy and poetry inspired by the scientists’ work, the project fosters a deeper understanding of science and promotes positive associations with communities of color.

The Poetry of Science, in collaboration with The Peoples' heART, is a project that utilizes art to address health equity and representation in medical institutions like the Massachusetts General Hospital.

In response to systemic racism and the lack of representation of people of color (POC) in media and art, Joshua Sariñana, PhD, co-created The Poetry of Science with poet and editor Linsey Jayne. This multidisciplinary project combines poetry and photography to amplify the voices and experiences of POC, countering negative stereotypes with positive representations. Read the Article»

In a conversation with Michael Kirchoff, Joshua Sariñana discusses the intersection of neuroscience and photography, revealing how his dual background informs his creative process.

Joshua Sariñana presented at the Science Gallery Museum and Trinity College, Dublin, as part of the Neurohumanities Public Lecture series. His lecture, Interrogating Science and Art Through Neuroscience and Photography, explored the intersections of neuroscience, photography, and art to investigate how visual perception transforms from sensory input into emotional and contextual meaning.

Representation of Hidden Communication was featured on VSCO New, spotlighting a visual narrative rooted in my time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The project documents the often unseen, intricate world of neuroscience research through portraits of my colleagues and the lab environments we worked in.