Space + Art

This week's lecture focused on how space exploration is being used as a theme for many fields such as fiction writing, art, movies, and music. The curiousity we have with space travel and the limitless possibility of extraterrestrial life makes it so incredibly interesting, drawing the attention of viewers from all different backgrounds. These fantasies become realities through science and engineering. Specifically, with Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" in 1865 and Arthur Clarke's "The Fountains of Paradise," we see how far an old science fiction has become a true reality for mankind over time. Back then, these ideas seem wayward and idealistic, but it is an art form for those who are grounded in the laws of nature and science. The scientific method states that every experiment begins with a question. Without a challenging imagination, we would never proper forward with our research.

Something very interesting that I have never explored in depth are the effects of war and how it encourages us to make huge jumps in technological advances for weaponry and defense. When the entire country's priority is set on warfare, the effort to succeed is high. This creates a positive externality, since the people will go to great heights to protect their country. This way of thinking has led the country into space exploration to develop technological equipment, such as satellites, to increase their abilities and be prepared. In this generation, space is becoming less of an abstract thought, art has borrowed its beauty as shown in the exhibition, "Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity." This exhibit exemplifies the theme of zero gravity or weightlessness.

A way of identifying art and space is through the universally known arrangement of stars, also coined as the term, constellations. Back in history, people named these patterns and allowed them to trace distinct images in space that resemble artistic subjects. In elementary school, we used to look up at the sky to see if we can find these shapes formed by the shining stars. There are thousands of legends and artistic stories tied behind these figures. If you think about it, that makes "space" a never-ending medium filled with amazing wonders beyond our wildest dreams.  

[1] "Audacious & Outrageous: Space Elevators." NASA Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015. 
<http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/>.

[2] Briggs, Josh. "Top 10 'Star Trek' Technologies That Actually Came True."HowStuffWorks. InfoSpace LLC, 10 Nov. 2009. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.howstuffworks.com/10-star-trek-technologies1.htm#page=3>.

[3] Dir. Victoria Vesna. Space Pt4. YouTube, 30 May 2012. Web. 26 May 2015. 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ClKO6AJPo>.

[4] Verne, Jules. From the earth to the moon. Mt. View, Calif.: Wiretap, 199. Print.

[5] Clarke, Arthur C.. The fountains of Paradise. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. Print.

Nanotechnology + Art

Nanoscience is a quickly developing field of research that brings together many different aspects of life and can promote a variety of benefits. It is expected to lead to countless innovations and advancements that can contribute towards addressing many problems facing today’s society. This technology is being integrated into an array of products. However, regardless of nanotechnology’s widespread prevalence, many customers, if not most, are unaware of its influences and brush it off as another scientific theory they come across. We don’t realize we are exposed to nanoparticles in our daily lives.

In order to create an idea of the space nanoscience covers, I will start off with nanoparticle applications in the Manufacturing sector. This includes:

1. Silver nanoparticles in fabric which are used to kill bacteria, making clothing odor-resistant
2. Zinc oxide nanoparticles which can be dispersed in industrial coatings to protect wood, plastic, and textiles from UV ray exposure. 

Secondly, current applications of nanoparticles in the Environment sector include:

1. Gold nanoparticles which are embedded in porous manganese oxide as a room temperature catalyst to breakdown volatile organic pollutants suspended in the air
2. Iron nanoparticles which are used to clean up carbon tetrachloride pollution in our ground water

Nanoparticles can also be applied to the field of Energy and Electronics, as seen with silicon nanoparticles, which are used to coat anodes of lithium-ion batteries to increase battery power and reduce recharge time.

Personally, the most interesting use of nanoscience is color. Color, special effects and intricate patters are all a result of nanotechnology in our everyday lives. If you look at stained glass windows, the color is actually obtained by trapping different color nano-particles into a confined space in order to emit a certain other color. For example, gold nano-particles give you red windows while silver nano-particles give you yellow. Art is meshed with science as the color we enjoy with our eyes is a product of the size of the particles, how they interact with the glass and the way they reflect light.         

[1] "How Nanotechnology Could Reengineer Us." Keithley: A Tektronix Company. Keithley Instruments Inc., n.d. Web. <http://www.keithley.com/knowledgecenter/How-Nanotechnology-Could-Reengineer-Us>.

[2] Kullman, Joe. "Art Form, Nanotechnology Combine to Advance Batteries."Arizona State University News: Science & Tech. Extremetech.com, 22 May 2015. Web. <https://asunews.asu.edu/20131022-chan-lithium-ion-batteries>.

[3] Camara-Campos, Amaya. "Preserving Art at the Nanoscale." Royal Society of Chemistry. RSC Publishing, 7 July 2010. Web. <http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemScience/Volume/2010/08/Preserving_art.asp>.

[4] "Nano in Textiles and Clothing." Nano&Me. Web. 22 May 2015.

<http://www.nanoandme.org/nano-products/textiles-and-clothing/>.

[5] "Gold Nanoparticles in Manganese Oxide Cleans VOCs from Air." Nano&Me. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://www.understandingnano.com/nanoparticles-gold-voc-air-pollution.html>.

[6] Daw, Rosamund. "Nanotechnology Is Ancient History." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/nanotechnology-world/nanotechnology-is-ancient-history>.

Neuroscience + Art

To me, Neuroscience + Art can be considered a subcomponent of the previous blog assignment, Medtech + Art, because it is involved with the way we map out our bodies through an artistic form. However, now that we are focused on the most magical and infinite organ -- the brain. I am excited to delve deeper into the complexities of the brains which connects the entire nervous system, and controls every aspect of our bodies.

Professor Vesna was talking about the term "phrenology," which is the idea that we can compartmentalize our brains into several sections, assigning each section with a function or role that it plays. Similarly like art and science, the visual representations of these regions are extremely detailed and helps us imagine and understand what specifically is going on. The artists' work is truly underrated -- to be able to combine the scientific knowledge of brain functions with a picture to depict time, memory, depth, personality, and other behaviors, definitely promotes mastery in neuroscience and art.

Digital artist, Ruth West, questions whether or not there should be a separate standard for art involving living organisms and self-living systems. What's the difference between the two? I personally do not think such separate standards are needed since art can be created using so many different instruments that we can’t have separate standards for all when we all universally feel the joys of appreciating good art. I'm a big believer in there being this common enjoyment of art that's the same for a baby and the most experienced connoisseur.


Noah Hutton is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who strongly believes that art and neuroscience go hand in hand because they both enable each other to be a large part of our lives. If you think about the existence of one without the other...it's impossible, they are codependent. Art is the rich content that human life desires while neuroscience is the vehicle in which this content enters our lives. His films focus more on documentaries for a cause such as oil drilling, bone marrow donors, climate change, and dark ecology. His form of art helps communicate using ethos and pathos, allowing specific targeted groups of people to find a sense of intimacy in his work.

Another artist I found interesting is Greg Dunn, a University of Pennsylvania student whose art stems from Japan’s Tokugawa period paintings. I appreciate how minimalistic his work is, yet there is so much power behind these neuron-like branches in how they segment off into different paths representing the uncertainty of our central nervous system. This abstract art can be overlooked and interpreted as a design to most common folk. However, when you take the time to observe what these shapes represent, and how accurately they mimic our brain's neurons, you will be surprised. Just look below -- I pulled up a neuron ink piece of Dunn's collection and a diagram that dissects the components of a neuron. What are the similarities and differences between the two?

[1] Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>.

[2] West , Ruth. "Ruth West Digital Artist." Ruth West Digital Artist. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015. <http://www.ruthwest.com/>.

[3] Dunn , Greg. "Greg Dunn Design - Visual Art | Neuroscience Art | Gold Leaf Painting."Greg Dunn Design. Visual Art , n.d. Web. 15 May 2015. 
<http://www.gregadunn.com/>.

[4] Dean, Geoffrey. "Phrenology and the Grand Delusion of Experience." CSI. Web. 15 May 2015. <http://www.csicop.org/si/show/phrenology_and_the_grand_delusion_of_experience/>.

[5] "Sleuthing the Mind: Exhibition Review." The Beautiful Brain. 9 Nov. 2014. Web. 15 May 2015. <http://thebeautifulbrain.com/author/noah/>.

Biotech + Art

For non-science majors, how could we simplify “biotechnology?” For beginners, think about the machines used in hospitals. Those were invented and manufactured by doctors and engineers who discovered a need for them to help aid the medical field. When this study intersects with art, we enter a world called “bioart.” This field is the practice where artists use living matter combined with scientific background to reconstruct life.

Biology is the new medium, replacing the traditional such as photography, film, or watercolors. Bioart no longer derives solely from our post-genomic era, but foregrounds what comes next. In envisioning new forms of biological transformation, bioartists scrutinize contemporary bioethical issues to the point of controversy.

For me personally, when I think of art and biotechnology, digital imaging of cells and bacteria come to mind. It’s easy to only view these images as a real life representation of regular bodily components. However, their natural beauty is a form of great art to the human eye. Due to this aesthetic quality, I find Joe Davis’ work extremely unique and special – his ability to tame lightning and direct it to specific sculpture for variations in colors is one of the most genius mediums of art I have studied. To be able to harness one of nature’s most powerful weapons as an artistic instrument is both daring and respectable.

Another bioartist that I respect is Kathy High. She spent months on her conceptual art project: Blood Wars. It was cool how she was able to represent the “fight” between different blood cells in the blood wars. She looks at the biological reaction of competing human white blood cells and also questions traits inherited through blood. This project is a competition in an ironic simulated tournament where different individuals’ white blood cells vie for dominance on the petri dish. This project playfully engages with debates about blood traits and the powerful histories of blood. It helps bring a better understanding of the processes of blood cell division, cell staining, immune cells and the functioning of the immune system, time-lapse microscopy and laboratory protocol.

A good deal of bioart explores the reality of our human bodies and an image that represents what we’re really made up of. The artists teases our curiousity of natural components by forming it into a metaphorical figure.

[1] Vesna, Victoria. "BioTech + Art PT1." BioTech and Art. UCLA. UCLA, Los Angeles. 9 May 2015. Lecture. 

[2] Robinson, Gavin. "MIT Professor building a lightning-harnessing tower as memorial." Geekcom.n.d. Web. 09 May 2015.

<http://www.geek.com/news/mit-professor-building-a-lightning-harnessing-tower-as-memorial-576927/>.

[3] High, Kathy. "Blood Wars." Kathy High: Visual/media Artist, Independent Curator, Educator. Web. 9 May 2015. <http://kathyhigh.com/project-blood-wars.html>.

[4] Miranda, Carolina A. "WEIRD SCIENCE: BIOTECHNOLOGY AS ART FORM." ART NEWS. 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 9 May 2015. <http://www.artnews.com/2013/03/18/biotechnology-as-art-form/>.

[5] Solon, Olivia. "Bioart: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Using Living Tissue as a Medium." Wired. 28 July 2011. Web. 9 May 2015. <http://www.wired.com/2011/07/bioart/>.

Midterm Project

Here is the link to my midterm project:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ooq0KDG9UdcE5CenZSbmx3Z3M/view?usp=sharing