Unit 9: Space & Art

Space has long been a subject of fascination for humanity since we could look at the stars. It drove astronomers such as Copernicus to study the solar system and provide evidence that the Earth is not the center of the universe. Similarly, Galileo's interest in space spurred him to dramatically improve the design of telescopes and further advancing the field of optics.

Nicholaus Copernicus

Eventually the idea of space exploration became a topic of interest in literature long before the technology to do so existed. Jules Verne's works, such as "From the Earth to the Moon", served as inspiration for writers and inventors for many years to come.

This drive took a different form during the 20th century as it pushed both the United States and the Soviet Union into the Space Race. Space no longer became a fascination solely because it was an unknown but because it played an important role in world politics. As a result, it became a large part of popular culture that carried on beyond the Cold War.

Todd Schorr's "Verne to Vader"

Today, space has driven artists such as the International Association of Astronomical Artists to research and pursue imagery involving space. By looking at space through the years, we can see its role as inspiration for both scientists and artists alike to explore new ideas regarding the final frontier.

"Measure of a Galaxy" By Jess Artem

Bibliography
"International Association of Astronomical Artists - Space Art."International Association of Astronomical Artists - Space Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://iaaa.org/>.

"Jules Verne Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 31 May2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/jules-verne-9517579>.

Redd, Nola Taylor. "Galileo Galilei: Biography, Inventions & Other Facts | Space.com." Space.com. N.p., 8 May 2012. Web. 01 June 2015. <http://www.space.com/15589-galileo-galilei.html>.

Space Exploration and Art. Victoria Vesna YouTube. N.p., 29 Jul. 2013. Web. 31 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8>.

"The Space Race." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/space-race>.

Unit 8: NanoTech & Art

Although the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is typically though of associated with scientists studying various molecules, researchers have been able to use it to apply concepts from macroscopic environments onto the nano scale. For example, Wim L. Noorduin, a physical chemist at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was able to create structures that look like familiar things in everyday life: vases, flowers, and leaves.

Spiral-Stemmed Carnation

At first, one would expect the creation process to involve sculpting in the same sense an artist would use. However, these objects are grown in multiple stages. Noorduin's nano-scale sculptures act as an example of how both the scientific and art worlds are adapting through developments in nanotechnology.

Another example of this is NANOBAMA created by MIT's John Hart. Using a process similar to the lithography used to create semiconductors he was able to find a creative way to merge science and popular culture.

NANOBAMA

As we can see through the emergence of nano machinery and even nano bots, nanotechnology has taken concepts from the past few centuries and brought them to a new light. Regardless of if these ideas will be treated in similar fashions as their predecessors, such as robotics, we can be certain that it will contribute to the emergence of a third culture.

Nanobots

Bibliography
"Faculty Highlight: A. John Hart." Faculty Highlight: A. John Hart. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://mpc-www.mit.edu/news/newsletters/may-2013/item/373-faculty-highlight-a-john-hart>.

Gravotta, Luciana. "Very Fine Art: 6 Stunningly Beautiful Nanoscale Sculptures." Scientific American Global RSS. Scientific American, 19 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/very-fine-art-6-stunningly-beautiful-nanoscale-sculptures-slide-show/>.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May. 2015. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.

Malcolm, Chris. Art in the Age of Nanotechnology. Bentley, WA: John Curtin Gallery, 2010. Print.

Nanotech for Artists Part 3. Dr. Gimzewski. YouTube. N.p., 21 May 2012. Web. 23 May 2015. <https://youtu.be/X0HCNiU_108>.

Unit 7: Neuroscience & Art

In Giovanni Frazzetto and Suzanne Anker's "Neuroculture", we yet again see how science and art must work together to benefit society as a whole. The field of neuroscience is yet another example of how collaboration is needed between the two cultures in order for us to develop better. As outlined in "Neuroculture", the scientific community is responsible for presenting their findings while the artists take these concepts and help us understand them better.

Building on that thought, art and science cannot exist without the other. On its own, science has a hard time helping the general public become aware of discoveries. Ramon Cajal's research and illustrations regarding brain cells have served as an inspiration for artists and scientists alike.

Drawing By Ramon Cajal

Without artistic influences it is unlikely that concepts such as Brainbow, where different colors are used to track nerve cells, would have come to existence. What we know about the brain is still nowhere near complete.

Brainbow Zebrafish Embryo

Due to our limited understanding findings have the ability to strongly influence the public opinion of identity and mental well-being. This is evident in the popularity of phrenology during the 19th century. As mentioned by Frazzetto and Anker, brain "images have the power to alter conceptions of personality and identity". This places a tremendous responsibility on the shoulders of artists who can create these images through their own interpretations.
 

Artistic Illustration of Brain in Neuronal Forest

Bibliography

Artistic Illustration of Brain in Neuronal Forest. Digital image. Visual News. Visual News, 19 May 2011. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.visualnews.com/2011/05/19/building-the-supercomputer-brain/>.
"Brainbow." Brainbow. Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

DeFelipe, Javier, and Santiago Ramón Y Cajal. Cajal's Butterflies of the Soul: Science and Art. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.
Drawing By Ramon Cajal. Digital image. Nobel Prize Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2015. <https://nobelprizewatch.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/how-not-to-give-a-nobel-lecture/>.
Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Review Neuroscience 10 (2009): 815-21. Web.

Pan, Albert. Brainbow Zebrafish Embryo. Digital image. A Colorful Zebrafish. The Smithsonian Institution, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 May 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-colorful-zebrafish-42081312/>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience-pt1” Lecture. Youtube, 16 May 2015. Web. 17 May 2012. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>.

Unit 6: BioTech & Art

An interesting point that arises is how technology finds its way into other areas. Of course there's the example of genetic engineering finding its way into the realm, but it goes further. Even trends and approaches used in technology influence this mixture of biology and art. As described in Chris Kelty's "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?", there exists this perspective of a hacker culture when it comes to biotech and art. Normally the term hacker is associated with engineers, yet the ideas are able to be applied elsewhere. Another example of this is Roger Brent and the idea of "open science" which serves as an analogy to open-source software that we see in the realm of computer science.

Genetic Engineering

The same applies in the other direction. As described by Ellen K. Levy in "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classification" programmers have created machine code that evolves. Perhaps the applicability between concentrations shows how intertwined everything is. This can be seen in the form of what are called digital organisms, which are programs that go through process of self-replication, mutation, and adaptation through natural selection like organisms in the real world.

Black and White Digital Organism

We should keep this in mind when it comes to the relationship between biotech and art. Like other mixtures, it still revolves around similarities between biology and art to be able to explore novel ideas similar to other combinations we've studied such as robotics and art. The main reason for controversies in this specific subject revolve around the involvement of living creatures. Although this boils down to a debate regarding ethics, I believe that the intention is the same as is in other blends between the sciences and the arts.

Lab Rat

Bibliography

"BRENT LAB." BRENT LAB. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://research.fhcrc.org/brent/en.html>.

Condliffe, Jamie. Genetic Engineering. Digital image. The Super Protein That Can Cut DNA and Revolutionize Genetic Engineering. Gizmodo, 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://gizmodo.com/5991488/the-super-protein-that-can-cut-dna-and-revolutionize-genetic-engineering>.

Kelty, Chris. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?"

Kim, Yunchul. Black and White Digital Organism. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.khm.de/~tre/void.htm>.

Lab Rat. Digital image. My Life as a Lab Rat. Salon Media Group Inc., 24 Nov. 2011. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.salon.com/2011/11/24/my_life_as_a_lab_rat/>.

Lenski, Richard, Charles Ofria, Travis Collier, and Christoph Adami. "Genome Complexity, Robustness and Genetic Interactions in Digital Organisms."Nature 400 (1999): 661-64. Nature.com. Web. 10 May 2015.

Levy Ellen K. "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications."

Vesna, Victoria. “Biotech Part 1.” Lecture. Youtube, 10 May. 2015. Web. 18 Sep. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Biotech Part 2.” Lecture. Youtube, 10 May. 2015. Web. 17 May 2012. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&t=231&v=MdSt-Hjyi2I>.

Midterm

Unit 4: Medicine, Technology, and Art

From our learning from the previous unit, we've seen how technology has made robots and other machines more prevalent in our everyday lives. Although technology is more prevalent in the form of tools and helpers, we're beginning to see an increasing association of machines and the human body.

Prosthetic limbs have been around for centuries. For a long period of time they were treated solely as attachments to help people with missing limbs to carry on with their daily tasks. For the most part, people with prosthetic limbs were looked down upon. Recently, however, artists have taken to using prosthetics as a form of art and give their subjects a form of pride .

Anatomical Leg from the Alternative Limb Project

Technology has also found itself in our lives (literally) in the form of medical implants. There are small implants, like the RFID chip Dr. Kevin Warwick had implanted in his arm, that play a rather passive role in people's lives. More recently we've started to see a mix between medical implants and prosthetics. With developments in how we study signals sent through our nerves we have created bionic arms that can be controlled by the same signals that our natural arms are.

Brain-Controlled Limb from DARPA

In her TEDx talk, Diane Gromala describes the experience that virtual reality has on our body. With retinal implants, a similar concept can be applied to allow the blind to see again. For some people, what we can distinguish as a distinct difference between art and science must be blended together in order benefit their lives.

Retinal Implants that Use a Patient's Real Eyes

Despite the fear that some people have of machines and how far they've entered today's society, the incorporation of technology with the human body acts as a strong argument against that fear. Are we less human if we have an artificial limp or have a chip injected into our arms? It is another case of making our lives easier and using our own ingenuity to improve the lives of human beings.



References
Anatomical Leg. Digital image. The Alternative Limb Project: Imaginative and Bespoke Prosthetics. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.thealternativelimbproject.com/>.

Brain-Controlled Limb from DARPA. Digital image. Popular Science. Popular Science, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/building-my-dream-bionic-body?image=5>.

Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty. Perf. Diane Gromala. YouTube. TEDx, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.

"Kevin Warwick - Home Page." Kevin Warwick - Home Page. University of Reading, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.kevinwarwick.com/>.
Nosowitz, Dan. "State of the Bionic Art: The Best Replacements for My Flimsy Human Parts." Popular Science. Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/building-my-dream-bionic-body?image=5>.

Retinal Implants that Use a Patient's Real Eyes. Digital image. Popular Science. Popular Science, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/building-my-dream-bionic-body?image=5>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 25 Apr. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/psjnQarHOqQ.” Lecture. Medicine pt2 . Youtube, 25 Apr. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/FIX-9mXd3Y4.” Lecture. Medicine pt3. Youtube, 25 Apr. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4>.

Unit 3: Robotics & Art

Ever since the invention of the movable type, literature and art have been made easily available to the masses. Through the industrial revolution, machinery found more and more ways into everyday life. Although convenience was greatly improved, technological advancements in technical reproduction inadvertently introduced the concern of preserving uniqueness. As pointed out in Walter Benjamin's The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, "The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity". For art, even though there may exist an "original", reproductions in the form of copies may decrease how special viewing a piece is. Instead of enjoying a minute details of the brushstrokes of a painting modern viewers may be satisfied by looking at a digital print of the same work.

Fine Art Giclee Print on Moab Entrada Paper vs. Original Watercolour on Strathmore cold press Paper

A relationship between advancement and authenticity can also present itself when we look at robotics - although it happens from a different perspective. As mentioned in the lectures, we've seen a movement towards robots that take on the semblance of living things. Whether it's humanoids or hexapods, humans are creating machines than resemble less and less the machines that normally come to mind.

Humanoid Robot

One example of this is Big Dog, created by Boston Dynamics. Although it is a large robot featuring sophisticated control systems, it is still built to resemble's man's best friend. The combination of a robot that helps humans (in this case, to carry heavy equipment) that is designed in a form we are all familiar with also shows how we are moving towards a greater fusion between technology and art.

Big Dog

References

Benjamin, Walter, and J. A. Underwood. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.

Big Dog. Digital image. Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move. Boston Dynamics, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.bostondynamics.com/>.

"Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move." Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.bostondynamics.com/robot_bigdog.html>.

Davis, Douglas. "The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction." Leonardo 28.5 (1995): 381-86. Print.

Duncan, Braden. Fine Art Giclee Print on Moab Entrada Paper vs. Original Watercolour on Strathmore Cold Press Paper. Digital image. Art Scene Seattle. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://art-scene-seattle.blogspot.com/2012/11/bfa-classiest-fine-art-scanning.html>.

Humanoid Robot. Digital image. Beach News. Beach News, 13 Feb. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://beach-news.com/interview-humanoid-robot/>.

"Micromagic Systems Robotics Lab." Micromagic Systems Robotics Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.hexapodrobot.com/index.html>.

Norman, Jeremy. "From Gutenberg’s Movable Type to the Digital Book, and Other Studies in the History of Media." Relating the Rapidly Changing Present to the Distant Past as Far as Book History Is Concerned. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://Fwww.historyofinformation.com/Fnarrative/Findex.php>.