Thursday, May 21, 2015

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. .  
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1 comment:

  1. Stephanie DaltonMay 24, 2015 at 5:13 PM

    I like your contrast of examples using nanotechnology from both a "bottom-up" and "top-down" approach. It really demonstrates how innovative and flexible nanotechnology is at every level-- whether that be changing properties at the nano-level or using it to build large, visible structures in new ways. And while I agree with you that a nano-sized sculpture may not be seen as useful at first glance, I think it is in fact a very useful demonstration of the manipulation of atoms with nanotechnology. It encourages and inspires the answer to the question "What else can we do with this technology?"

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