Event #3 - Singular Spaces

"Singular Spaces" is a series of photos from Jo Farb Hernandez. It is mentioned that the spectacle seen in the photos are the work of eight artists and shows the importance of different styles coming together to create a single art piece. “Their creations are generally monumental in scale or in a number of components and are intended to be viewed and experienced as a whole...”

The exhibition shows Julio Basanta Lopez’s "House of God", a house that is surrounded by many statues that seem to resemble demons.

"House of God," protected by demons

The house to me is a jumbled mess of figures and statues that even though look stylistically similar, don't seem to mesh with each other well at first glance. I believe that each figure or group of figures is unique since they have their own meaning and representation as well as made of different materials.

Regardless, I do think that their differences are important because all the statues and figures were made for the same purpose which is, according the description, to ward off demons. Their collective power creates an even greater power than what they could accomplish alone. It’s interesting that even though these figures were not created with the intention of being artwork, can be interpreted in this way. The collaborativeness seen in the photos is similar to the exhibition in Event 2, highlighting the importance of different fields working together to create and discover more than what they could do apart. I like that it has the subtitle "From the Eccentric to the Extraordinary," because of how this person superstition became an informative piece of artwork,

Event #2 - Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem

In this exhibition, “Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem,” by Vivan Sundaram, there are two different styles of artwork that come together in this one exhibition showroom. On one side, we have Gagawaka, in which we have multiple pieces of clothing and accessories that are all made of recycled material  or medical supplies. On the other side, we have Postmortem, sculptures created using and manipulating anatomical models.

"Pill-Fill "

"Spine 2"

Both sides are examples of being that third culture in between two seemingly opposite sides. Sundaram made beautiful and interesting pieces of wearable art out of either material to be thrown away or important medical equipment. I would not think that such items could be made using these resources. With the anatomical models, Sundaram combined them in interesting ways that I wouldn’t expect.

"Immunity Cover" - Made out of surgical masks

From assortment of large/small shelf objects

The exhibition is described as “[capturing] the tension between beauty and illness, pleasure and pain, life and death.” These contrasts are seen through the different elements and materials that the artworks are made out of. What’s cool about this exhibition is that it uses these contrasts to create something interesting. I was both interested and confused in why these two sides come together in this showroom. The exhibition can help us understand the importance of two cultures and how it through the intersection and collaboration of the two cultures to make a new third culture in between. It was perfect to explain to the audience straight out that this exhibition is the combination of styles because it highlights the importance of their differences and how they can be connected of compared. I recommend this exhibit to those interested in the different ways the third culture arises in art and wanted to explore the results of these different collaborations.

Event #1 - Infinity Structures

In this exhibition, we see art made through the use of math and technology to make an art piece that would describe the possible look of a multidimensional room. As we know, people live in a three dimensional world and we could only perceive a three dimensional without the use of computers so to attempt to create a room that emulates a room with more dimensions is not an easy task.

The artist and I

The artist’s name is Robert Gero and he used mathematics and computers to create the schematics of how the room would look and then through the use of styrofoam, he constructed his room. He would rotate, shrink, and position wire versions of the room and use those different pieces to overlap the actual room.

You can see the video overlapping the structure

Gero was able to impose more dimensions in the room with a few different tools. He would have a projector to screen another form of the wire intersections that would rotate as well as played sounds in the background that I can’t really describe. These features I liked a lot because it breaks our understanding of what these higher dimensions could contain. One thing that stood out to me were the pillows that were placed around the sculpture in which he explained were to make the room seem familiar by using props from the museum.

The seemingly out of place pillow has an importance of creating familiarity

Similar to the Flatlanders in Flatlands (mentioned in unit 2), we are inherently unable to understand greater dimensions that what we experience with our own lives, but unlike them, we are encouraged to figure out the mystery of these higher dimensions. There can be so many different interpretations of higher dimensions so it’s great to see one viewpoint as it will only spark more ideas and stir questions in others as well. The art piece was definitely able to create a conversation between its audience, mostly with the artist himself, so I believe that this is what makes it a compelling piece of artwork. I enjoyed this exhibition and it would be interesting to explore other’s view of a world in higher dimensions and the artwork they would create with that vision in mind.

Unit 9 - Space & Art

This week, we talked a space and some history of space travel. Similar to nanotech, space travel is another thing we associate with the future, along with flying cars and space colonies. Space is one of the many stepping stones for the advancement of technology, but it also has its impact in the art world as well. As mentioned in lecture, there are many examples of space in media, both in the past and present, there are multiple movies, video games, books and pieces of artwork.  Space is a beautiful thing that due to its and many natural phenomenons that occur. Whether it be the distant stars that illuminate the night sky or Aurora and the Northern lights that may occur. Space is a beautiful sight to behold which explains why it may inspire some artist and pieces of artwork.

Nebula's Crimson heart (Video on website)

Aurora Planet
Painting by Mark A. Garlick

Space really is a vast and it may be impossible for people to fully understand, but that does not mean people will not try. Through scientific investigations and experiments is the usual approach to try and predict or figure out what may occur out there in space but that is not the only approach. There are many instances in which art would be used to illustrate the many possibilities objects or creatures that may exist somewhere across space. Because of the seeming infinite size of the space, there are many unknowns and unpredictable elements and the art and creativity is able to capture these elements of space.

Wayne Barlowe's Imaginary Creature

What is important about these two distinctions of space is that the collaboration from these two viewpoints can help create new ideas in how people may approach space. In Ron Miller's article, "The Art of Space, Envisioning the Universe," he talks about the collaboration between artists and astronauts to help accurately predict the unknowns of space. Another example of this type of collaboration is the space elevator that was mentioned in lecture. Just as with many other science topics, they could be pushed farther with the help of the artistic world and vice versa.

Cited Sources

Cofield, Calla. "Nebula's Crimson Heart Revealed in Breathtaking Images, Video | Space.com." Space. N.p., 28 May 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.space.com/29455-nebula-crimson-heart-terry-hancock-photos.html>.

Color Artwork." Iaaa. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 June 2015. <http://iaaa.org/pulsar/4-01-2.html#1>.

Miller, Ron. "The Art of Space, Envisioning the Universe | Space.com." Space. N.p., 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.space.com/27726-space-art-illuminates-science-and-imagination.html>.

Carroll, Michael. "Space Art - Illustrating the Universe." Astronomy Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.astronomytoday.com%2Fastronomy%2Fspace-art.html>.

Clark, Stuart. "Nanotechnology Can Launch a New Age of Space Exploration." The Gardian. N.p., 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fnanotechnology-world%2Fnanotechnology-can-launchttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fnanotechnology-world%2Fnanotechnology-can-launch-a-new-age-of-space-explorationh-a-new-age-of-space-exploration>.

Unit 8 - Nanotech + Art

This week there was a lot of talk about what nanotechnology is. Explaining the many components and structure of nano-sized components.What surprised me about this is probably what surprised most people, that there are many ways people already use nanotech. I always thought nanotech would be something that people would utilize in the future, something far-off, but they are many examples in which nanotech is already being used that I never thought of as nanotech.

There are self-cleaning glass and cosmetic products that were mentioned in lecture as well as stain-resistant clothing ans counter surfaces that many people already own. The article by Iris Price, "Cutting-edge Nanotechnology Comes Home," mentions many products of the sort. Notably, there is the FENIX NTM® laminate that is said to reduce light reflectivity and reduce the accumulation of dirt and germs.

It's even self-healing

We can also see that there is a connection between nanotech and art. As seen in lecture we have the Lycurgus cup that changes color through the use of nanotech.

What;s also interesting is the old age of the cup. Nanotech apparently is not a new concept.

One can easily envision the beauty of stained glass windows and the colors the windows show is als due to the use of nanotech. There are even instances where nanotech can expand the uses of art. The article "Air-purifying Church Windows" mentions just that, windows that are able to purify the air when lit by sunlight.

Photo of Associate Professor Zhu Huai Yong from the article

We can also see the convergence of nanotech and art through Kimsooja, a Korean artist that wanted to “shape and perspective that reveals the invisible as visible, physical as immaterial, and vice versa” ("Art and Nanotechnology Converge in Campus Biennial"). Kimsooja artwork was called the "Needle Woman" a structure that through the collaboration of artists and scientists, changed colors as the viewpoint of the artwork's viewers change.

Pieces of "Needle Woman"

Just as the art piece changes colors, the constant collaboration between art and nanotech should change people's perception of the two. As nanotech becomes more prominent in our society, it should be no surprise that more artist will use this technology to create new and interesting art pieces.

Cited Sources

"Nanotechnology Now." - Current Uses. N.p., 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanotech-now.com/current-uses.htm>.

Price, Iris. "Cutting-edge Nanotechnology Comes Home." New Nanotechnology Products for the Home. Improvement Center, 23 June 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.improvementcenter.com/countertops/cutting-edge-nanotechnology-comes-home.html>.

Aloi, Daniel. "Art and Nanotechnology Converge in Campus Biennial." Art and Nanotechnology Converge in Campus Biennial. Nanowerk, 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=37327.php>.

"Nanotechnology Now." - Art and Nanotechnology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanotech-now.com/columns/?article=255>.

"Air-purifying Church Windows Early Nanotechnology." Air-purifying Church Windows Early Nanotechnology. Lab Spaces, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.labspaces.net/8666/Air_purifying_church_windows_early_nanotechnology>.

Unit 7 - Neuroscience + Art

For this week, there was a lot of focus on the mind and how the mind interprets and perceives information and how people analyze it. An interesting quote appears in an article by Elizabeth Landau that comes from Pablo Picasso which reads, "We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand…” (“What the brain draws from: Art and neuroscience”) This stems from the idea we understand and see art easily and try to understand how it may relate to the artist or real life. The are some cases in which art imitates life and is easily seen by the viewers. This subject also makes me think about the novel written by William Gibson in 1984, Neuromancer. The story explores the border between humans and machines and contains characters that crosses these borders. The main character of the novel is Case, who makes a living as a hacker by being able to jack into cyberspace (Neuromancer). This character feels the most alive when he is maneuvering through cyberspace which changes the way how he perceives the two worlds. He is more inclined to believe the cyberspace as being reality and what is natural to him. To him, his work in cyberspace is his artwork which would differ from other characters. It is interesting how the brain works since it is the part of your body that interprets art in its many different forms and how the brain works can be considered art as well. There are many instances in which patterns and designs that we see as art occur naturally, and the intricate design of our brain is an example of this. From the lecture, we learned about the technique called Brainbow, in which neurons of the brain are colored or illuminated that creates a collaboration of colors that show the connection of neurons.

Brainbow

You can also see art inspired by the structure of the brain in Greg Dunn’s work (Priscilla Frank, “Neuroscience Art”)

Greg Dunn, a Neuroscience PhD Student

Cited Sources

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. N.p., 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F09%2F15%2Fhealth%2Fart-brain-mind%2Findex.html>.

Gibson, William. Neuromancer. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Bradt, Steve. "Neurons as Works of Art and Science." Harvard Gazette. N.p., 31 Oct. 2007. Web. 17 May 2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fnews.harvard.edu%2Fgazette%2Fstory%2F2007%2F10%2Fresearchers-create-colorful-brainbow-images-of-the-nervous-system%2F>.

Brainbow Hippocampus. YouTube, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZCZV5-v3S4>.

Frank, Priscilla. "Neuroscience Art: Greg Dunn's Neurons Painted In Japanese Sumi-e Style (PHOTOS, INTERVIEW)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 May 2012. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/greg-dunn_n_1534366.html>.

Unit 6 - BioTech + Art

This week’s topic focuses on the combination of biology and technology to create art and the controversy that may erupt from the results and the experiments. Life itself should be considered as a medium of art and from my Unit 4 post, we know that people already use their bodies as canvases for their art. In nature as well, there is a sort of beauty in the purity of it and as mentioned in Unit 2, there are many artistic phenomenon that occurs naturally in nature. We also know that technology is used to create art as well. In the same way, using technology to manipulate nature is a type of art form as well. There are many instances in which technology or experiments are used to change or manipulate objects.
The controversy sometimes relates to the genetic mutation of plants or animals in which debates come up about whether the products of these experiments are art. This stems from the idea that art and technology are valued differently. The lecture this week mentioned Alba, the “GFP Bunny,” that is able to glow a fluorescent green under specific conditions. This is the transgenic creation of Eduardo Kac. Of course, making a rabbit glow has little use and it’s shown through the lecture that scientist did not think highly of this experiment but Kac did not call it an experiment or “project”, he called it “artwork” and a “social event.” He mentions in his article about the GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) Bunny that, “Transgenic art, by contrast [to a scientific breeding project], offers a concept of aesthetics that emphasizes the social rather than the formal aspects of life and biodiversity, that challenges notions of genetic purity, that incorporates precise work at the genomic level, and that reveals the fluidity of the concept of species in an ever increasingly transgenic social context.” 

Alba

GFP Mice

This project would contrast projects involving transgenic foods in which people are trying to have certain fruits or vegetables gain certain traits that is beneficial to the needs of and conditions of different societies (“Transgenic Plants”). Transgenic livestock is another example as they genetically engineer cows to produce more helpful components for humans upon consumption of their milk (Transgenic Cows).

The reason Kac can call Alba art is because of the conversation it creates among his viewers, which is an important aspect of art, which I have mentioned before. It is not purely dominated by the aesthetic view of the product. 

You can't even tell she is special under normal circumstances

There is another reason he calls his work art. In another article written by Kac, he stresses the importance of a relationship between the creature and the artist which is not something I had thought about (“Transgenic Art”). Because your artwork is a living being, taking care of it becomes an important parameter in the art process. It becomes more of an art project that must be maintained over time instead of an art piece that is made and then displayed. This gives Kac’s art more depth than your standard art pieces like a painting or a photograph. Maybe biotech artist needs to be measured on a much different standard.




Citation
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor>.
"Transgenic Plants." Organic Gardening. N.p., 28 Nov. 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://organic-gardening.site27.com/transgenic-plants/>.
"Transgenic Cows." Biotechnology Learning Hub RSS. N.p., 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://biotechlearn.org.nz/focus_stories/transgenic_cows>.
Kac, Eduardo. "TRANSGENIC ART." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/transgenic.html>.
"Green Fluorescent Protein." Little Microbiology Blog. N.p., 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://littlemicrobiologyblog.tumblr.com/post/33896372913/green-fluorescent-protein>.