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

Event 3: Diary of Smells

This event was really unique and impressive. It was about the art of smell, which I had never heard of before. When I walked into the exhibition room, an aroma was blowing into my nose. I met Professor Vesna there and she introduced me to the artist of this exhibition, Josely Carvalho. She was such a nice lady that she explained her special work to me. She was the most interesting artist that I have ever met. She dedicated herself into a unique and unprecedented artistic expression, the smell. Nowadays most arts are visual and audible such as paintings, photographies and music. However, art of smell was introduced to my knowledge of art for the first time.

Josely started the work with smell in memory of her grandmother when her grandmother once said to her: go take a bus if you don't want the smell of catfish. She was using certain smells to remind her some certain memories. She said that when something happens to people, they must have feelings and emotions about the happening. She wanted to create smell that can represent this certain happening in people's memories. Since smell is physiological, when people smell some familiar odors, physiologically they have some unclear images of old memories appear in their minds. That is how the art of smell works. So Josely was working with chemists in labs to created different smells to help remind her different memories and emotions. These smells can exactly correspond to certain memories and emotions. When we smell them, we can immediately think of the happy or sad moments we had before.

This is a very amazing combination of art and chemistry. Even though these odors smell like perfume, actually they are just used to represent memories, emotions and stories. Employing modern chemistry, Josely created all the exact smells that she had in her memories and also created a special artistic expression. She took the advantages of chemistry and physiology to make people feel their emotions and find their memories through smells.  To find out various combinations of art and science is what we are looking for during the entire class.

Event 2: Hammer--Seeing Things Invisible

Hammer Museum is really worth visiting because it is free for UCLA students! I went there to see the exhibition of Forrest Bess--Seeing Things Invisible. This was really not only an experience about watching paintings but also a lesson that made me get to know the artists and how they integrated their special ideas into their work.

Firstly, I thought Forrest was just a normal artist who liked painting landscapes. He taught himself how to paint by copying the artists he admired when he started to learn painting. However, when we followed the guide into his later paintings, his style was changed. He started to use symbols to convey his ideas. This was probably because he was always isolated from the world and came up with his own interpretation with everything in nature. 

His work in his later time is pretty impressive. Forrest tried to use his paintings to cover universal meanings. He made up his own "thesis" that men and women are united after he learned some medicine and other fields. He even did a surgery to his genital to prove the hermaphroditic state. Even though his idea seemed weird and unbelievable to us, he was an artist who sought to combine paintings with medicine to create a bridge between art and science. He believed that there were some universal meanings which involved art and science. Forrest, unlike Snow who thought art and science stood against each other, created a new way to perform his paintings.

When artists are creating their work, they also developing the way they are working in. Combining scientific knowledge into artistic creation is a very impressive method because artists have different ideas and understandings of science. Forrest's unique interpretation of medicine helped him improve his painting style and use it in artistic expressions. This event is really a great chance to learn about how artists make those amazing paintings and what artists want to express in the paintings.

Resource:

"Forrest Bess: Seeing Things Invisible - Exhibitions." Hammer Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

http://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/detail/exhibition_id/242

Midterm Presentation

Midterm Presentation