Space and Art

This week’s topic is Space and Art. It is quite easy for me to understand the relationship between space and art comparing to other topics that we have discussed before.  Many creative ideas in scientific novels and movies are entertained by space scientists while science knowledge allow artist to produce more imaginative artworks. For examples, alien is a topic that scientists and artists are both working on. Artists use their great imaginations to produce scientific novels and movies. People must be very familiar with the following movie names, E.T, Man in Black, Star Wars, etc. In the movie E.T, it tells a story that a boy called Elliott and his brother help the extraterrestrial go back to home. 

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial>

On the other hand, inspired by these great imaginations, scientists have been working on this topic for years. NASA has a very famous program called NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. It has a variety of goals. Among all the goals, the most important goal is to "determine whether life ever  arose on Mars"(NASA Mars Science Laboratory ). The rover Curiousty has proved that liquid water once existed on Mars and taken multiple pictures that show the possibility of aliens. With these evidences, Artists have more scientific knowledge to base on and create more stories that are imaginative but also realistic. 

Are these aliens???????

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/aliens-on-mars-photos_n_4303447.html>

Another interesting topic that interest both scientists and artists is gravity. Because of aerospace science, artists start to notice that the gravity effects. For example, “Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity” held by EMPAC is an exhibition “in which contemporary artists explore – and on occasion recreate – the condition of weightlessness on earth.” Instead of traditional artwork that follows the rule of gravity, all artworks on this exhibition violate the gravity law on earth and bring people to a weightless world. This idea is arose by aerospace engineering. Another famous non-gravity work is made by  German artist Cornelia Konrads. Her work is based on weightlessness and focuses on objects like logs, fences, and doorways.

<http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/04/gravity-defying-land-art-by-cornelia-konrads/>

From the examples above, people can see that how art and space are contributing to each other. This topic, space and art, is a very good ending point for this quarter's study. Just like Professor Vesna said in the lecture, it combines all previous topic into one lecture. Aerospace is a very complicated topic which needs knowledge from Nanotech, Neuroscience, Math,etc. People should work more on this topic and contribute to society. 

Works Cited

“Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity at EMPAC.” Art & Education. N.p.. Web. 30 Nov 2013. <http://www.artandeducation.net/announcement/dancing-on-the-ceiling-art-zero-gravity-at-empac/>.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . Wikipedia. 28 Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial>

"Gravity-Defying Land Art by Cornelia Konrads" Colossal. 24 April. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013
<http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/04/gravity-defying-land-art-by-cornelia-konrads/>

"Mars Science Laboratory." NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

<http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/goals/>

Vesna, Victoria, Video Intro, Youtube. 26 March 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzN08A6UBoo#t=12>

Nanotechnology and Art

This week’s topic is Nanotechnology and Art. From the word Nano, it is not hard for people to tell what nanotech is about. It is something in a small scale, nanometer. According to Wikipedia, nanotech is defined as “the manipulation of matter on atomic and molecular scale.” It is another new modern technology that is developing rapidly just like biotech and neuroscience. In this week's the lecture, professor Gimzewski, an scientist who works on Nanotech, introduces nanotechnology in detail. He talks about the allotropes of Carbon, the Scanning Tunnel Microscope, and applications of these inventions in many fields. However, how can nanotech be related to art? I start to understand the connection between nanotech and art by finding couple interesting examples in this week’s readings.

Nanospace.

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

One of the interesting examples is Nano-space created by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau. These two artists aim to make the Nano-world to be touched through this artwork. By wearing magnetic rings, users can move their hands over table and experience atomic properties caused by magnetic forces, for example, attraction, repulsion, etc. This example shows how artwork can contribute to science study. Nanotech is invisible. Thus, it is sometimes very hard to describe how things work in nano world. However, this artwork makes invisible things to be touchable. People can have a better feeling that the nanotech.  

another picture of nanospace

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

Another great example is Nanomandala created by our Professor, Victoria Vesna, and James Gimszewkski.  This team itself can be considered as a combination of nanotech and art since Professor Vesna is an artist while James is a pioneer in nanotechnology. According to Professor Vesna, visitors can touch the sand as images of this grain of sand are projected from its molecular structure. Therefore, the images of this single grain of sand can be visible and form a wonderful artwork. This artwork is a perfect combination of art and nanotech. Nanotech allows people to see the molecular structure of tiny things and artist uses this technology in order to create artwork. Below is a video of Nanomandala. 

Nanomandala

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OerNS-Lu2Fg>

From the examples above, people can see that how nanotech is changing the art performances. Just as Professor Vesna said, after working on this topic for over 10 years, “ [nanotech] is about a shift in our perception of reality from a purely visual culture to one based on sensing and connectivity.” After this week's study, I have been more convinced that art and technology can never be separated. They are working as a whole and develop together. 

Works Cited

Curtin, John. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology."Artabase. N.p., 30 Apr 2010. Web. 24 Nov 2013.<http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Gimzewski,  Jim and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in 

the construction of a new scienc." Technoetic Arts. 2010. Print. 

Gimzewski, James. “Nanotech for Artists” Youtube. 21 May. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE>

"Nanomandala."UCLA. n.d. Web. 24 Nov.2013

<http://nano.arts.ucla.edu/mandala/mandala.php>

“Nanotechnology”  Wikepedia.  13 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov.2013

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology>

Week 7 Neuroscience and Art

Before this week’s lecture, I have never thought about how neuroscience and art can be connected to each other. For me, neuroscience is a mysterious science field, which has nothing to do with art. However, after studying this week’s material, I have a brand new thought about neuroscience and start to consider the relationship between neuroscience and art.

While studying the relationship between neuroscience and art, I start to think about the origin of art. This question has been discussed throughout history. Some believe that art is created naturally. Others points out that people can use math, modern science theories, and biotechnology, which have been discussed in previous weeks, to create art. I think both them can be the origin of art. What I notice is that in either way, people need something to identify the beauty. This amazing thing is the brain. Brain is the proof of human’s thinking and intelligence.  Brain is what creates and perceives art. This point is confirmed by the famous filmmaker Noah Hutton. He believes that brain can perceive and conceive art. Also, he believes that artwork can reflect one’s mind as well.  Therefore, a word, Neuroarthistory, comes out.   Professor John Onians from University of East Anglia first creates this term by holding Postgraduate modules, which concerns the neurological study of artists.  According to his study, Florentine painters use more lines while venetians use more color. This is because “ neural plasticity ensured that passive exposure to different natural and man-made environments caused the formation of different visual preferences."

Besides, brain, itself, can be a great artwork as well.  For example, professor Vesna mentioned that Brainbow is a beautiful representation of brain activities.  Below is a picture of Brainbow. 

a image of Brain

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iyW7-6DH9R5CQLdcIWaQTvT_eP-FtXlitXb7SP_k6O8

In addition, Dr. Grey Dunn, who has a PHD degree in neuroscience, explores the relationship between neuroscience and art through his multiple paintings of brain. On his personal website, he says that “Neurons may be tiny in scale, but they posess the same beauty seen in traditional forms of the medium.” This can be a perfect example of how neuroscience and art can contribute to each other. Dunn can enjoy painting of the beautiful brain while still studying neuroscience. As he said during the interview with the Beautiful Mind, he can do two things he likes at the same time, and they can work perfectly together.

Dunn's paintings of brain 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182992/Paintings-brain-neuroscientist-Greg-Dunn-inspired-Japanese-drawing-style-Sumi-e.html

As we can see from the examples above, neuroscience and art work perfectly together. With the development of technology, neuroscience will be further developed and can be used more in future art study.

Works Cited

"Cracking the real Da Vinci Code"University of East Anglia. 6 Sep 2006. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. <http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2006/sept/Cracking+the+real+Da+Vinci+Code> 

Dunn, Grey. n.d. Web. 16. Nov. 2013. 

<http://www.gregadunn.com/about/> 

Hutton, Noah. “Art and Neuroscience: A State of the Union.” Art and Neuroscience: A State of the Union. 9 Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. 

<http://thebeautifulbrain.com/2012/09/art-and-neuroscience-state-of-the-union/>

"Neuroarthistory" Wikipideia. 3 Apr 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroarthistory#cite_note-UEArelease-6>

Stebner, Beth. "A beautiful mind: Stunning paintings of hippocampus, lobes, and neurons depict grey matter in a colourful new light." MailOnline. 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.

<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182992/Paintings-brain-neuroscientist-Greg-Dunn-inspired-Japanese-drawing-style-Sumi-e.html>

Vesna, Victoria, Video Lecture1, Youtube. 17 May 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2013

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI. >