86 - The Blood-brain Barrier

What kind of New Zealander would I be if I didn’t try to slip in a LOTR reference somewhere in this project!?

The blood-brain barrier is like a super-tight security gate around your brain's blood vessels, made of packed endothelial cells glued together with astrocytes for extra lockdown, letting in only tiny essentials like oxygen, water, glucose, and fat-soluble stuff while blocking germs, toxins, and big junk from the bloodstream to keep your gray matter safe and stable. It works via tight junctions that seal gaps (unlike leaky body vessels), plus pumps that shove out intruders and shuttles for nutrients, discovered in the 1960s via dye experiments showing brain exclusion.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) features Gandalf's iconic "You shall not pass!" scene near the end, where Ian McKellen's wizard faces the fiery Balrog demon on the narrow bridge of Khazad-dûm in Moria's depths after the Fellowship flees orcs. In Tolkien's book, Gandalf says "You cannot pass!" multiple times as a magical command invoking the Secret Fire (creation power) against "Flame of Udûn," shattering his staff to collapse the bridge and sacrifice himself ("Fly, you fools!"), but Peter Jackson's film amps it to the defiant "You shall not pass!" for epic drama, earning an Oscar nod and meme immortality.

Watch the epic showdown with Gandalf and beastie here.

Available in 4 hand numbered limited editions of 600, premium fine art museum-grade archival quality prints, from only $195.

100% of the profits from this project will be donated to brain cancer research.

BUY

Limited edition

premium fine art archival print

supporting brain cancer research

Video Block

Double-click here to add a video by URL or embed code. Learn more

This fine art giclée print is produced by world-class printers Left Bank Art Group, on 310gsm Ilford Smooth Cotton Rag. The 100% cotton, fourdrinier-made rag paper is ultra-smooth and includes no optical brighteners for a clean, matt surface. Printed using Epson's premium 12-colour UltraChrome PRO12 pigment ink system - the pinnacle of fine art reproduction technology. These archival-quality pigment inks deliver an expanded colour gamut with exceptional colour accuracy and smooth gradations. VIBRANT. CRISP. BEAUTIFUL. Designed for museum-grade archival permanence with fade resistance exceeding 200 years under proper display conditions.
Domestic & international shipping
All prints are shipped directly from our printing and fulfillment partner, the amazing team at Left Bank Art Group who are based in sunny Queensland.
Your prints will be dispatched within 3-5 days and then delivered either by Australia Post or DHL.
All A1 & ‘whole collection’ orders will receive complimentary shipping.
Otherwise, flat rate shipping charges apply to all orders:
Australia $20
New Zealand $35
Asia $45
USA/Canada/Mexico $55
UK & Europe $65
Please visit this page for more information
Rest assured that your beautiful new prints will receive the full white glove treatment and arrive in pristine condition.
A4 & A3 prints are inserted into a clear sleeve with card backing, and sent in a flat pack
A2 prints are rolled with kraft barrier paper, and sent in a postage tube 62cm x 7cm diameter.
A1 prints are rolled with kraft barrier paper, and sent in a postage tube 70cm x 8cm diameter.

BUY

SHOP ALL

SHOP ALL

"The artwork is even more beautiful in person than I expected from the photos on the site. The depth, texture, and detail just don’t fully come through on a screen."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emma J.
"This piece has completely transformed my room and instantly became a conversation starter whenever friends come over. People always ask where I found it and want to know more about the artist."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lucas R.
"The colors, level of detail, and overall quality are absolutely stunning. You can really see the care and skill that went into creating it."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Priya S.
"I felt such a strong emotional connection to this piece the moment I saw it, and I knew it just had to come home with me. Living with it every day makes me genuinely happy."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Daniel K.
"The packaging and shipping were excellent. The artwork arrived quickly, very securely wrapped, and in perfect condition."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sophie M.
"Linda was friendly, responsive, and a pleasure to communicate with from start to finish. All my questions were answered clearly and promptly."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Marcus L.
"The whole buying process felt smooth, professional, and trustworthy. I’m already planning my next purchase from the collection."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hannah T.
"The artwork looks exactly as it was described and pictured online, and it still somehow exceeded my expectations in person. There were no surprises, just delight."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oliver B.