Final Project

Final Project

Event 5: Typhoon Relief Benefit Show

When Professor forwarded the email of an invitation of the donation show, I thought I would attend not only because it is an event for this class, but also because it meant a lot to my UCLA Filipina peers whose families were suffering from the Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Since it was a benefit show,  the goal of which was to inform people the serious situation in Philippine and raise money to help, it was not an event that we could find the obvious connection between art and science. This show emphasized emotional expression. However, there were still some noticeable integrations of art and technology.

The Performers

After I registered, I found a good seat so that I could watch the performance clearly. The show began at 8 p.m. Before it started, there were slides of photos of destroyed houses and impacted people in Philippine. While the slides were shown on the certain, the background music more evoked the sad feelings about people who were impacted by the typhoon. I think people have the same experiences as me that surrounded by rhythmic music through the stereo speakers, we feel like our hearts are beating with the rhythms. I still remembered the song they put was "Officially Missing You" by Tamia. This is a very classical R&B style song. Listening to the lyrics of the music while watching the slides of pictures of the disaster, I could not help feeling the same way my Filipina peers feel. Along with the technology of stereo speakers, music and pictures vividly showed the the bad situations of the disaster and infiltrated the sentimental feelings into our hearts.

The map of Philippine with marks of impacted areas

My favorite performance was the Filipina traditional dance “Tinikling" by SPCN. Besides the amazing and fabulous dance, I was so obsessed by the way the dancers danced. They used four bamboo sticks to organize the whole performance. They used the sticks to make rhythms, create certain shapes for the dancers to dance accordingly. Even though there were not many modern technologies employed in the show, since it was traditional, the choreographers still integrated science and art. They employed the mathematics of choreography to organize the dance and also employed the special physical sounds by the bamboo sticks hit on the floor to create happy circumstances for the dance.  The dancers and choreographers wanted to remind us of the happy lives their families in Philippine used to have and evoke us to help them rebuild their homes and lives. I highly suggest my peers to attend such benefit shows because not just we can help people, but also we can experience the unique integration of art and science to express emotions.




           Front of ticket                                                                          Back of the ticket

Professor's Approval (email)

Event 4: Getty Museum - The Universe Next Door

Getty Museum is such a good place to visit not only for artistic exhibition, but also for a wonderful view. I went there to see the Morell's exhibition: The Universe Next Door.  Abelardo Morell is an internationally famous artist for his employment of photography into the expression of visual surprise and wonder. It was interesting to find out that after the birth of his son in 1986, he started to take large pictures around his home to explore ordinary household objects with childlike curiosity. Morell was so creative that he turned to photography expression as a source of inspirations.

There was a section called "From a Child's Perspective". I was so obsessed by the title that I could not  help imagining how the pictures were going to look like with my personal experiences. Morell wanted to examine the differences between a child's view of the world and an adult's view of the world. In "Toy Blocks", he seemed to crawl on the floor with a camera at an eye level of a little baby. A set of wood boxes with cheery imagery was constructed into a tower, which little children like me always played. This picture reminded me of my childhood of spending the whole morning building wood blocks. Morell's work from a child's perspective evoked a preverbal vision of a child.

Toy Blocks

Morell  was a very creative photographer and artist; he had experimented with various photography techniques such as the tent camera with a periscope lens on top,  which projected the scene outside onto the ground within the structure. He used this technique to show a special but appealing image that underfoot ground formed the backdrops, which exhibit a unique background for the image. In the context of our class, Morell is an artist who is working to build a bridge of the two cultures. As an artist, he creatively employed photography techniques to demonstrate and express the surprises and wonders in our daily life, "From a Child's Perspective" for instance. The idea of the language of photography resonates perfectly between science and art, which we are looking for in this class.

Tent Camera Image On The Ground: Golden Gate Bridge

I highly recommend visiting Getty Museum as an event. It will not be closed even after this class! Besides "the Universe Next Door", Getty also has several different exhibitions like European paintings. If you are interested in paintings, this is a perfect place to visit. You can enjoy the beautiful views and ticket is free!

My Ticket

Resources

1. "Getty Exhibition Explores the Fantastic Visual World of Photographer Abelardo Morell."News from the Getty | Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

2. "Abelardo Morell: The Universe Next Door (Getty Center Exhibitions)." N.p., Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

Week 9: Space and Art

The final topic of this class is space and art, which perfectly integrate all the previous topics together. Like what Professor Vesna mentioned in the introduction lecture video, the space is a subject which contains nanotech, robotics, mathematics and so on. Humans live and civilize in this planet for thousands of years and they have always been curious about the sun, the moon; they even make theories and beliefs into these spatial objects. However, people did not realize the space from a scientific perspective until Nicolaus Copernicus proposed his heliocentrism, a model in which the Earth and other planets revolve around the sun. This model was created in Copernicus' careful mathematical calculations of the movements of the sun and planets. Copernicus' contributions to astronomy brought people into a new scientific perspective of space.

Heliocentric System 

I am particularly interested in the connections between art and space. Like I said before, space is a combination of math, nanotech and other advanced technologies. However, I think the most important thing for space exploration is the creative idea but not technology. According to Professor Vesna, science fiction writers offer visions and ideas for scientists to start and develop their scientific experiments. For example, the idea of artificial satellite was firstly depicted in a short story "The Brick Moon" by American author Edward Everett Hale. Nowadays, there are hundreds of artificial satellites are revolving around the Earth like the international space station. It is remarkable that the idea and models that once were only described in science fictions have already become realized in the real world.

The International Space Station

In addition to the influences of art on science, spatial science also has major impacts on art. The famous Hubble Space Telescope was invented and launched to provide visual image resources for scientific researches. It was named after astronomer Edwin Hubble in memory with him. Not only does Hubble Space Telescope contribute to scientific research, but also the pictures it takes are significant to art. The images it takes are so beautiful and special that people connect them to their imaginations such as the image of Horsehead Nebula that was snapped to mark Hubble's 23rd birthday.

Horsehead Nebula

Resources:

1. "Space intro." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Lecture Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzN08A6UBoo#t=20

2. "The Brick Moon." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brick_Moon

3. HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-station5.htm

4. "copernicus: looking at motions of the moon." Madame Pickwick Art Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. http://madamepickwickartblog.com/2012/12/copernicus-looking-at-motions-of-the-moon/

5. "Hubble Telescope Snaps Stunning Image of the Horsehead Nebula." Latest News. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hubble-Telescope-Snaps-Stunning-Image-of-the-Horsehead-Nebula-346996.shtml

6. "8 space pt1 1280x720." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Lecture Video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8#t=312

Week 8: Nanotech and Art

Nanotechonoly is a relatively new area not only in scientific field but also in art. Nanotechnology began to start and develop just few decades ago and it is almost strange to most of us. However, even though we do not know about it, nanotechnology is affecting every aspect of our lives. As what Professor Vesna said in the lecture, nanotechnology is pushing the shift of paradigm of "two cultures", which are the science and art, into 21st century. According to Dr. Gimzewski, nanoparticles, which are very important applications in nanotechnology, already existed thousands years ago in a Roman goblet--Lycurgus Cup. The exact mixture of glass, silver and gold in nanometer scale made it an amazing feat that Lycurgus Cup changes color depending on how the light hits it. The nanotechnology helped ancient Romans create such a magical artwork.

Lycurgus Cup

The Lycurgus Cup was made in absence of the knowledge of nanotechnology behind it. Nowadays, with the help of advanced technology, scientists and artists can work together to produce some special artworks in the world of nano-scale. The image "Caterpillar Massacre" was created in hundred of tiny plastic "green fingers", each 1/500th the diameter of a human hair, that have self-assembled tiny plastic "orange spheres". This image seems to consist of numerous green caterpillars undergoing a massacre but without the feelings of brutality.

Caterpillar Massacre

Nanotechnologists can also produce extraordinarily amazing picture just with a simple scanning electron microscope and some photoshop modifications. Working with her professor Mark Welland, Ghim Wei Ho created her work--nano flower bouquet. Apart from its beauty as a three dimensional structure, detailed characterization also reveal a complex mixture of amorphous and crystalline material. Applying nanotechnology to art can present a new way of seeing, sensing and connecting with matter that miniscule and abstract. 

Nano Flower Bouquet

Resources:

1. "Nanotech Jim pt3." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. Lecture Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108#t=83

2. "Ancient Nanotechnology Exhibited in This 1,600-Year-Old Roman Goblet | Video | TheBlaze.com." The Blaze. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/28/ancient-nanotechnology-exhibited-in-this-1600-year-old-roman-goblet/

3. "Nanotechnology Art Gallery -- Ghim Wei Ho." Nanotechnology. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. http://www.nanotech-now.com/Art_Gallery/ghim-wei-ho.htm

4. "NOVA | The Art of Nanotech." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/art-nanotech.html

5. "art in the age of nanotechnology on Artabase." Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology

Week 7: Neurosci and Art

Last week we discussed the integration of biotech and art, which was pretty controversial. Today we are looking into the relationship between art and a more specific human organ, the brain. With the development in modern technology and expansion of medical knowledge, neuro-science, especially in human brain, has been investigated and researched more by scientists. Santiago Ramon y Cajal was a pioneer who started the investigations of the microscopic structure of the brain. He was recognized as the father of modern neuroscience. Furthermore, he was also seen as a neurosci-artist since he drew a lot of neuron-pictures to illustrate the dedicate arborizations of brain cells, some of which are still used for educational and training purpose. As what Prof. Vesna said in the lecture, Cajal is a great example of how artist and scientist come together and how art and science are integrated into each other.

Cajal's neurological illustration: The Beautiful Brain

Moreover, Cajal's idea and work about neurosci also influenced other artists like Suzanne Anker. She is a visual artist and theorist woking in the fields of art and biological science. Cooperating with a neuroscientist Giovanni Frazzetto, Anker focused the work with connection with Cajal's idea of butterfly of the human brain. Cajal referred the neurons as the mysterious butterflies of the soul. The following is the Anker's artwork of "the butterfly of the soul"shown in inkjet prints on watercolor paper.

MRI Butterfly

Human brain is a very complicated organ since it functions as the control center of all the other organs. The structure of neurons in brain is so complex that even by looking at some digital images of brains, people still can hardly have a clear recognition of brain structure. Moon Brouwer realized this difficulty and then she came up the idea of making a book with 3D images to better illustrate the structure of brain. Her creativity made art of neuroscience not only visible but also touchable and educational.

How Brouwer made her 3D book

Resources:

1. Vesna, "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Lecture Video

2. Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. http://aon.nin.knaw.nl/

3. "Exquisite Data: a Review of Cajal’s Butterflies of the Soul : The Beautiful Brain." The Beautiful Brain | Art and Science of the Human Mind : The Beautiful Brain. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

http://thebeautifulbrain.com/2010/02/exquisite-data-a-review-of-cajals-butterflies-of-the-soul/

4. "Santiago Ramón y Cajal." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Ram%C3%B3n_y_Cajal

5. "neurological illustration from Cajal’s Butterflies of the ... | design." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/102527328988658563/

6. "Artwork | Suzanne Anker." Suzanne Anker | Artist. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

http://www.suzanneanker.com/artwork/?wppa-album=16&wppa-photo=152&wppa-occur=1

Week 6: BioTech and Art

We have been learning the connections between art and science for several weeks. Now here comes the most controversial topic in our learning process, which is the biological technology. The researches and applications of biotech are very controversial nowadays especially in the area of food source and ethics. According to what Professor Vesna mentioned in the lecture video, more and more artists participate in the laboratory work and bring those forefront issues caused by biotech. SymbioticA, for example, is an artistic research lab located in the University of Western Australia. There are a lot artists working with biologists and expressing the biology and life science from artistic perspective by experimenting artititic and scientific projects. This lab provides a good opportunity for artists to explore scientific areas.

SymbioticA Exhibition

As what Professor Vesna pointed out, collaboration with scientists and using scientific imaging for artists constitute the bioart. In Proto-animate 20TP a novel code sequence is comprised of 158 DNA bases derived from an ostensibly non-coding region of a gene. This sequence was inserted into E.coli bacteria and used as temporal paint-media to depict small living portraits. The scientific research findings are shown vividly with artistic expression, making it easier to understand the biotechnology behind this image. Another example of biotech and art is the microacoustic signatures by Joe Davis. This audio microscope translates light into sound allows us to hear  living cells and image their movements.

Proto-Animate

Audio Microscope

Eduardo Kac application of using life as artistic medium is pretty much the debate of biotech. He claims that his transgenic art work "GFP Bunny"is a new art form of genetic engineering. I think what he is doing is not acceptable. Artists should employ art to express the issue behind biotech to the public. Unlike what Joe Davis' experiments in audio microscope, what Kac is doing shows no respect to life, nature and ethics. Art is used to explore science with artistic view but not used to orient scientific research to a wrong direction.

GFP Bunny

Resources:

"Audio Microscope: Joe Davis : Genetics and Culture." Ruth West - Work - Viewingspace.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.  http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_audio_scope.htm

SymbioticA : SymbioticA : The University of Western Australia. N.p., n.d. Web.           10 Nov. 2013. http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/

"semipermeable (+) : SymbioticA : The University of Western Australia." SymbioticA : SymbioticA : The University of Western Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/activities/exhibitions/semipermeable-

"GFP BUNNY." KAC. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.  http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor

Vesna. "5 bioart pt1 1280x720." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. Lecture Video