Observations
Notes, experiments, and things noticed along the way.
On the acoustics of bone
Bone conducts sound differently than wood. This is not a metaphor. It is a measurement. The calvaria resonates at frequencies that cherry wood does not, and vice versa. Together they produce something neither material achieves alone.
Diaphonization notes: temperature sensitivity
The clearing process failed twice before it worked. Both failures were temperature-related. The enzyme that digests soft tissue operates in a narrow thermal window. Outside that window, you get soup.
CRT safety, or: things they should print larger
A flyback transformer stores enough voltage to stop your heart. This information is printed in 6pt type on a label inside the casing, which you can only read after you have already opened the casing. The design philosophy here is unclear.
Why obituaries
People ask why the skull is made from obituaries specifically. The answer is not symbolic. It is structural. Newsprint from the obituary section has a different ink density than the rest of the paper. It folds differently. It holds shape better. The metaphor is a side effect.
Procurement
Acquiring a human skull legally in Belgium is straightforward. You contact a medical supply company. You provide identification. You pay. The skull arrives in a box marked "fragile — anatomical specimen." The postman does not ask questions. He has seen worse.