Dissolution of Self

A conceptual wall sculpture of a figure with a split head. A tree with exposed circuitry roots grows from its spine.
The 'Dissolution of Self' sculpture, showing the physical e-waste piece next to its complex, ethereal reflection on the wall.
he ghost-like reflection of the 'Dissolution of Self' sculpture, showing a fragmented figure and tree as a constellation of light.
Close-up of the 'Dissolution of Self' sculpture, showing the figure's fragmented head and the small satellite figures emerging from it.
A sculpture of a figure with a split head and a tree for a spine, symbolizing the fragmentation and reconstruction of identity.
Close-up of the 'Dissolution of Self' sculpture, showing the figure's fragmented head and the small satellite figures emerging from it.
Detail shot of the 'Dissolution of Self' sculpture, focusing on the tree roots made of stripped circuitry that contain a dozen small heads
An e-waste sculpture by Mike Silverman, showing a figure whose spine is an intricate tree with roots made of computer circuitry.

Dissolution of Self, part of my Reflections series, speaks to the fragmentation and reconstruction of identity. While I initially conceived of it in 2023, I didn’t settle on a design until 2025. Caring for my father as he descended into dementia heavily influenced this piece, although I didn’t realize that until months after I had fiinished it.

The split head and emerging satellite figures represent the separation of past, present, and possible selves.

The tree is both spine and soul—a living network of connection, trauma, growth, and regeneration. Its roots, formed from stripped circuitry, reveal that what nourishes identity is often hidden and buried—emotional memory depicted as technological detritus.

The dozen small heads in the roots suggest lost versions of the self and the inherited identities we carry unknowingly.

The sculpture, through its spotlight reflection, reveals what can’t always be seen directly: the self not as static form, but as a constellation of parts—disparate, refracted, and yet beautifully connected when seen in the right light.

52”h x 40”w x 3”d: hard drive platter, motherboard

A Note on This Piece: You may notice the sculpture's appearance varies across these photos. All the images were taken at the same gallery show; the differences you see are caused purely by shifts in lighting and viewing angle. This 'living surface' is an intentional feature of the work, and it will bring the same dynamic quality to your home.