Event 3: Making Strange

Today I visited the "Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem" exhibit by Vivan Sundaram at the Fowler Museum. The exhibit contains art that combines the human body with fashion to create very interesting pieces. It is also supposed to contain social commentary about aging and illnesses, but I did not interpret the exhibit in this way. Below is a picture of the entrance to the exhibit, and also me with my Fowler Meseum pass.

I thought the pieces were very eye-catching and provoking. The first objects that I really noticed were part of "Postmortem", and they played with the human anatomy to create disturbing statues.

While some of these pieces (especially the one with the hand coming out of the head) were hard to look at initially because of how disturbing they seemed, they actually showed very interesting ways to rearrange parts of the human body. After looking at the pieces some more, I noticed that I found them to be extremely intriguing. Unfortunately, I do not see how they create commentary on illness and ageing, but perhaps I am missing something. I can definitely say however that these pieces are memorable.

On the other hand, the "Gagawaka" exhibit contained haute couture fashion. Below is one piece that I found to be interesting.

This is supposed to be strange haute couture fashion, and I can definitely see that. The material and shaping of the dress makes it seem like it would be impossible to wear in reality, which is similar to some other haute couture pieces.

I think the combination of "Gagawaka" and "Postmortem" was interesting, because they do not seem to be related at all. The only resemblance I noticed between the two exhibits is that they were both eye-catching, original, and shocking. Overall, I would recommend this exhibit to students if they want to see something interesting and provocative. However, I did not fully understand the meaning of the two exhibits, and that is why I cannot recommend "Making Strange" to people where it is not as easy to visit the Fowler Museum. I think the title of the exhibit agrees with my description of the pieces: strange.

Unit 9: Space + Art

Similar to last week's topic, nanotechnology, space is a frontier that society has only recently interacted with. Space and art have been closely intertwined, partly due to the fact that the ordinary person can't experience space. Therefore, art gives everyone a chance to gain some senses as to what it is like in space. This ranges from photographs and drawings of space (National Geographic), to visual effects such as the recent movie "Gravity".

Photograph of Earth

What was so appealing about "Gravity" was that it gave the audience a full experience of what it is like to be stranded in outer space. While the physics wasn't perfect, it actually was a pretty good depiction of what space is like from a physics point-of-view ("Gravity - Fact Check").

Art also can affect future space technologies. For instance, the idea of the space elevator was originated when scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was inspired by the eiffel tower, and thought of making a tower so high that it enters space (NASA Science News). Additionally, Arthur Clark's novel The Fountains of Paradise introduced the space elevator to the general public (Whyte). Furthermore, the movie and T.V series "The Jetsons" made the idea of travelling to the moon mainstream and more desirable. The show also predicted many current technologies, such as flat screens being everywhere, the use of nanotechnology, and household robots (UK Wired).

Even if shows and art mediums like these do not actually create the new technologies, they can inspire and motivate scientists and engineers to create these products.  I think it is truly incredible how far we have come when it comes to space travel in the past sixty years, and I hope for the newest venture to come true in my lifetime: affordable commercial travel to space.

References

"First Full View Photo of Earth." National Geographic, n.d. Web. 30 May 2015.
<http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/milestones-space-photography/earth-full-view/>

"Gravity Trailer." YouTube. Warner Bros Picture, 4 Sept. 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

‘Gravity’ Fact Check." Time Magazine, n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://science.time.com/2013/10/01/what-gravity-gets-right-and-wrong-about-space/>

"The Audacious Space Elevator". NASA Science News. Retrieved September 27, 2008.

Whyte, Nicholas. "The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke." The Fountains of Paradise. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/founp.htm>

"The Jetsons Turns 50, so Where's All That Cool Stuff?" Wired UK. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2015

Event 2: Do Our Rivers Have a Chance?

The second event I went to this quarter was at the Billy Wilde Theatre at the Hammer Museum, and is called "Do our rivers have a chance?". This was presentation consisting of a lecture and then Q&A session, and involves the pollution problems in our rivers, and what can be done to ensure that the planet's rivers remain clean in the future. Below is me with my ticket to prove that I went to the event, and also setup of the presentation. Unfortunately, phones and pictures were not allowed during the presentation, so I took the picture before the event started.

Since I am studying chemical engineering, I have learned a lot about water quality issues and technical solutions to solve the crisis. This presentation confirmed what I learned, that the water quality problem is very pressing and will define future generations. I was actually very surprised how shocked the audience was when pictures of dirty rivers were shown, or statistics of how many of our rivers and lakes have been polluted were shown. It made me realize that the public is generally unaware of how critical this issue is, and how important it is to have presentations like this to educate the public. Below is a picture of a dirty river in India, which is one of the pictures that really shocked the audience.

Dirty river in India.

One issued discussed was the nutrient runoff problem caused by agriculture and urban runoff. It was discussed how agriculture uses and outputs many nutrients, and these nutrients end up in water. The same occurs when trash and compost end up in urban water sources. These nutrient runoffs can cause algae blooms in the rivers (see picture below). These are also called dead-zones, because the algae consumes most of the oxygen in the water, thus destroying the ecosystem for fish and other organisms.

Algae bloom in Florida.

I recommend students going to this event in the future, especially if they are unaware or want to learn more about water quality issues. There will actually be future events this year at the Hammer discussing water quality, but they will be different from the river problem. We all need to make strides in solving this issue, and the first step in doing so is making sure that everybody is educated about this issue.

Unit 8: Nanotechnology + Art

Nanotechnology and quantum mechanics are fields that I have always been interested in, but I have never learned how they can be related to art. Professor Novoselov, a physics professor at the University of Manchester, teamed up with artist Cornelia Parker to use pencil drawings by famous artists (Picasso, William Blake, etc) to create a firework show using nanotechnology. Novoselov will take very minutes amount of graphite from the drawings, and convert them to graphene, which is a very strong carbon-based material that is 100 times stronger than steel (La Fuente). The graphene is then used to create a nano-sensor, which is used to trigger the firework show (Youngs).

Professor Novoselov and Cornelia Parker working together.

Nanotechnology has also paved the way for a new "super" glue using bottom-up principles (Daasbjerg). Organic molecules were changed using free radical reactions, and these reactions have created new polymers that have very strong intermolecular interactions ("Polymer Synthesis"). This glue is so strong, that it can be used to make a swing-set that can carry adults. The art applications with this glue are endless, and artists can build new structures never seen before.

A swing built using super glue.

Nanotechnology can also affect art using the top-down approach. Alessandro Scali is an artist who uses nanotechnology to build structures and art work at the nano-level ("Probation"). For instance, he has re-created the statue of liberty at the nano-level, and called his work "Probation". While I do not see how recreating sculptures at a nano-level is particularly useful, it is still ground breaking considering that this type of art has only existed in the 21st century. I look forward to see how art and nanotechnology can be combined to create innovative artistic works and structures in the future.

Scali's "Probation".

References

La Fuente, Jesus. "Graphene - What is it?". Graphenea. Web. 21 May 2015 

Youngs, Ian. "Art and Science Collide to Reopen Whitworth Gallery - BBC News." BBC News. 12 Feb. 2015. Web. 21 May 2015.

Daasbjerg, Kim. "New Nanotechnology Paves Way for Molecular Super Glue." Sciencenordic.com. 28 May 2013. Web. 21 May 2015. 

"Polymer Synthesis." Polymer Synthesis. Case Western Reserve University. Web. 21 May 2015.  

"Probation." Alessandro Scali | Creative Research and Development. Web. 21 May 2015. .  

Unit 7: Neuroscience + Art

While it may be more obvious to see how artists can take part in neuroscience by creating anatomical drawings of the nervous system, it is interesting to see a new field called neuroaesthetics arise. Neuroaesthetics attempts to explain art and the aesthetics using neurology (Hyman). For instance, scientists explain how the brain perceives location, motion, and identity so that artists can create certain illusions in paintings. Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise, while not inspired by neuroaesthics, gives the observer the impression of the sunlight reflecting on the water, and of water shimmering. This is not done by changing the intensity of light on the painting, but done by using the precise colors to give this impression (Chatterjee). Scientists have been able to explain why this is the case using neurology.

Claude Monet's Impression, Sunrise.

Artists also utilize neuroaesthetics by implementing the peak shift principle. The peak shift principle involves using non-realistic and exaggerated features to make something more aesthetically pleasing through discrimination ("Peak Shift"). For instance, artists will make a woman's skin more pink so that it's easier to discriminate between man and woman and so that it is more aesthetically pleasing to the viewer (Ramachandran).

One thing I find very interesting is how certain drugs, such as LSD, can change brain behavior and can allow people to create very color-intensive paintings. This is because LSD can induce sensations, sights, and sounds that seem real to the user but are not actually real ("Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs"). Below is a drawing that an artist made when on LSD.

I am very excited for a time when neurologists are fully able to explain how art affects the brain, because artists can utilize this knowledge to create more immersive art than ever before.


References

Hyman, John. "Art and Neuroscience." Oxford University, 2010. Web. 16 May 2015.

Chatterjee, Anjan. "Neuroaesthetics." The Scientist, 1 May 2014. Web. 16 May 2015.

"Peak Shift." Robert Genns TwiceWeekly Letters RSS. Web. 16 May 2015.

Ramachandran, V.S. "The Science of Art." Journal of Consciousness Studies, 1999. Web. 16 May 2015.

"Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs." How Do Hallucinogens (LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, DMT, and Ayahuasca) Affect the Brain and Body? Web. 16 May 2015.

Unit 6: BioTech + Art

With recent innovations to medical technologies and genetic manipulation, animal and plant life has become a new medium for art. SymbioticA is an artistic laboratory in the University of Western Australia that uses a hands on approach with life science. One exhibit is called semipermeable (+), where one specific piece involves differentiating iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells into neutrons, which then results in a man-made neural network. The exhibit converts the neural activity into an "unsettling soundscape" ("SymbioticA").

The "man-made" neural network in a petri dish.

Using in-vitro cells as a medium for art used to be controversial and is becoming less so. However, using in-vivo cells in the human body as a medium for art is still controversial. Stelios Arcadious is an artist who implanted a third ear underneath his forearm (Associated Newspapers). He is a performance artist and did this for shock value, and I think this is a little strange. It makes me feel that there should be limits as to what the human body should be used for when it comes to art.

Stelios Arcadious and his third ear.

However, it is interesting that something that seemed so frivolous was actually used for a woman who lost her left ear, and was able to regrow it under her forearm (Jennings). The video below briefly explains the woman's situation.



I think that scientists who manipulate cells and genes should be given more leniency than artists who do this. For example, a rabbit's genetic code was modified so that it would glow in the dark (The Guardian). This was done for medical reasons so that the scientists can test the success of altering an animal's genetic code. This has potential for many other medical applications. However, this has also been done by a man named Eduardo Kac purely for artistic reasons ("GFP Bunny"), and I think that this is unethical. It was highly possible for the bunny to experience negative side effects from genetic alteration, and there were not any positive benefits to performing this experiment. I think using life science as a medium for art is fine, but when it is possible to endanger animals without there being any medical benefits to the experiment, then I don't think the endeavour should be performed.

Alba, the glow in the dark bunny.

References

"SymbioticA." Semipermeable (+). The University of Western Australia, 2012. Web. 10 May 2015.

"Artist Implants 'third Ear' on His Own Arm." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 10 May 2015.

Jennings, Ashley. "Doctors Grow New Ear on Cancer Victim's Arm." ABC News. ABC News Network, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 May 2015.

"Scientists Breed Glow-in-the-Dark Rabbits." The Guardian. The Guardian, 13 Aug. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015.

"GFP Bunny." Kac Web. Web. 10 May 2015.

Unit 4: MedTech and Art

I believe one of the most common practices that bridges medical technologies and art is plastic surgery. However, the more unappreciated practice is that of using computer software to accurately model the human anatomy for scientific papers, research, and textbooks. Researchers and artists at John Hopkins University are undertaking a project to create a three-dimensional visualization of the nervous system and how it branches through the body (McKenna). The results can be used by doctors and surgeons to treat patients suffering from Pudendal nerve entrapment, which is a source of chronic pain due to the compression of nerve endings (Fred).

Anatomical illustrations of the nervous system in the pelvis region.

In addition, graduate students at John Hopkins School of Medicine have created a computer program that models post-operative livers in patients. This is very important as doctors need to understand the anatomy of post-operative livers when treating patients who underwent liver transplant surgery, but the resources are currently lacking.

However, there are more extreme cases that make me feel a little bit eery, but only if they are used in the wrong way. Kevin Warwick is famous for implanting a microchip in his nervous system so that he can directly communicate with a computer or another human with the same implantation without moving ("Professor Kevin Warwick"). I definitely see the potential benefits for disabled people to live a more normal life as this gives them another means to communicate. However, this technology can be used maliciously such as being used in a way that the computer communicates with the human, and since it is connected to the human's nervous system, there is the possibility that the motions of a human can be controlled.

Professor Kevin Warwick

Another ethical dilemma that can be discussed is the genetic alteration of humans. Recently, there have been babies born with the genetic code from three people (ABC News), and again I see the potential medical benefits of genetic alteration to prevent people being born with severe illnesses. However, we must have the conversation about what amount of alteration is too much, and whether it should only be legal to alter the genetic code to prevent illnesses, not to give certain desirable physical characteristics. In conclusion, the combination of medical advances and art can lead to great things, but as a society, we must determine when it is ethical and when it goes too far.


Resources

McKenna, Courtney. "Pudendal Nerve Entrapment: An Anatomical Study And Three-Dimensional Visualization Of Nerve Variations And Branching Patterns." Graduate Program: Thesis. The Department of Art as Applied to Medicine at John Hopkins University, 1 Jan. 2010. 

Howard, Fred. "Pudendal Neurlagia Information." URMC Imaging. University of Rochester, Medical Center, 1 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/medialibraries/urmcmedia/imaging/patients/documents/pudendal_neuralgia_brochure.pdf>.

Siegel, Elyssa. "Visual Resource for Liver Transplant." Visual Resource for Liver Transplant RSS. Department of Art as Applied to Medicine at John Hopkins University, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://livertransplant.jhmi.edu/?page_id=23>

"Professor Kevin Warwick." Kevin Warwick - Home Page. The University of Reading. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.kevinwarwick.org>.

"Report: First Genetically Altered Babies." ABC News. ABC News Network, 4 May 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117472>