Unit 8 : Nanotech + Art

Although we might not think of art in this way, countless atoms are basically composed in a pattern or design to create what we know as art. On the tiniest scale, this is what art is. It is impossible to see these atoms to the naked eye. Microscopes, for example, allow us to gain insight into what the eye cannot see, and to many, these images are fine art.

The image above appears to look like multiple cubic holes that contain a red oval inside but in actuality it's a single crystalline diamond grain. This image cannot be obtained without the technology required zoom in. Interestingly enough, something that is often not considered art, can be seen as art once shrunken down to the microscopic level. Technology has opened up a whole world of art and nanotech is one of the most complex and interesting sub topics.

On the other hand, we use products that contain nano particles without us even noticing. According to Dr. Gimzewski, there could be risks with using products with the nano particles. Food even uses this by manipulating taste or nutritional value on the microscopic level. One related product I found interesting was nano wax, a coating for your car that seals microscopic holes. Many are for and many are against the nanotechnology when it comes to using it in our daily products especially when it comes to food. Hopefully research is furthered to reveal the advantages and disadvantages.

The human cells can also be shrunken down to a minuscule level to reveal images that surprisingly look artistic. For example this image of a liver cell below is looks complex to the point where its very interesting to look at. It contains many aspects such as the nucleus and lysosomes. One thing that I took from this unit is that art can be found on the smallest level including in our own bodies.






“Cells under the Microscope Images.” Big Picture, bigpictureeducation.com/cells-under-microscope-images.

“Introduction to Nanotechnology – Images.” Nanowerk, Nanowerk, www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology/introduction/introduction_to_nanotechnology_31.php.

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 Nov. 2012. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.

“Introduction to Nanotechnology.” Introduction to Nanotechnology RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://nanogloss.com/>.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotech Jim pt5.” YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWc8nmHJmY.

Unit 7: Neurosci + Art

Neuroscience and art go hand in hand. Humans unavoidably process feelings of joy, sadness, or different motions when looking at various works at art. For example, a colorful and uplifting painting can cause a rush of happiness. The picture shown below of the dog triggers sensors in our brain to allow us to feel a sense of positivity rather than sadness. This is due to what the artwork contains such as a dog and flowers which most people associate with happy thoughts.

Something I found very interesting during this unit was the lecture by Mark Cohen. He explained how humans could adapt in the short span of an hour when inverted goggles were placed on someone, which showed me the power that the brain holds. The mind is able to adapt to a variety of different situations. I find it incredible how a person can be having a terrible day and the mood can be suddenly turned by simply watching a favorite TV show or listening to an uplifting song. Although music is just a bunch of different sounds composed to sound rhythmic to us, our brain can process it into many different emotions.

Through this unit, I found how thought provoking dreaming really is. We don't know much about the subject, but we are able to create a very unrealistic and somewhat mystical simulation in our mind while we are asleep. Dreaming, in my opinion, is a form of art because there are dreams that combine so many different elements into one that it becomes unique to almost all other dreams. Many people write in dream journals and artists even draw what they dream. I came across an artist named Philip Carey who does just that. His website is http://www.strangeartofphilipcarey.com/dreamdrawings/.
Unfortunately we forget most of what we dream but it is still amazing that we dream to begin with.
Art by Philip Carey


“Art and Emotion.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Apr. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_and_emotion.

“Dream Drawings.” The Strange Art of Philip Carey, www.strangeartofphilipcarey.com/dreamdrawings/.

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

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 2).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xlg5wXHWZNI>

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 3).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>

Cohan, Mark. Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eDq8uTROeXU>

event #2

The Museum of Jurassic Technology caught me by surprise and contained some very unique and thought-provoking exhibits. The museum has a somewhat ominous feel due to the dimly lit lighting and enclosed rooms. The museums that we think of such as the Smithsonian are usually much more open with larger exhibits. The most defining part of the museum were undoubtedly the unusual collections. One piece that I instantly saw went well with lecture was "The Floral Stereoradiographs" by Albert G. Richards. The works name evidently connects to the unit with medtech and art. One major aspect of that unit was the subject of x-rays and cat scans. These flowers were uniquely captured by x-ray and offers a different out look on the beauty of flowers. "The Floral Stereoradiographs" are an excellent example of not only medtech and art, but also nature, and all three of them coming together to produce something very eye-catching.

Another piece I saw connected to lecture was Ricky J’s “Decaying Dice”. This time, in relation to the math and art unit. These dice were made from cellulose nitrate which was the industry standard until later in the 1900s. The material used would be durable for some time than suddenly start to decay. I found these dice suprisingly interesting because of its simplicity, yet it still has color and the decaying aspect makes it standout. The dice made me think of how instantly things can change in life from good to bad or bad to good. Also, the work made me realize how so much of art contains math, from dimensions to the dots on the dice.

The most unique out of all the pieces, however, was "The Mice on Toast". Apparently eating mice on toast was "supposed to cure bed wetting" which i found very confusing. In a way it was somewhat comedic to me because of the fact that there is two dead mice placed on a toast. This goes to show that art can be such a wide variety of things especially in this museum. In my opinion, there is probably some hidden meaning to this piece as mice on a toast is just too random to just place in an art museum. Many would look at "The Mice on Toast" and just think its some sort of junk. Others see it as something so bizarre that its a masterpiece.

I would highly recommend this museum to anyone who is in for a surprise. The uniqueness of the collection is what made the museum such an experience for me. The dim lighting and small spaces also added to the environment. I feel like this is a must see for people who are searching for originality.

Unit 6: BioTech + Art

Undoubtedly a controversial combination, biotech and art comes with many pros and many cons according to Professor Vesna. Many breakthroughs can happen if ethics are willing to be risked. One major example of this can be seen in the mouse who had a human looking ear grown on its back. Many look at this experiment in two ways: It can be seen as animal abuse, or as a breakthrough in science. It was made using cow cartilage cells and implanting it under the skin of the mouse which even sounds controversial.

Before this unit, I did not pay much attention to genetically modified food that is often part of my daily diet. A variety of plants and crops are modified in order to help with different traits. One of my favorite fruits to eat, papaya, is actually modified in a way to make it more virus resistant. An interesting fact about genetically modified papaya that I came across is that it saved Hawaii's papaya industry because the ringspot virus was detrimental to the fruit. Once the papaya was genetically modified, it was able to grow into one of Hawaii's top fruit industry. However, GMO does come with many risks such as potential infertility and immune problems. There are positives and negatives to genetic modification which is what makes it so controversial.

Taking the ear on the rat's back even further, a man did the same on his arm. I find this very interesting as there would be no purpose for an ear to be on an arm like Professor Vesna stated.
Anything that is unnatural and genetically modified like this raises many questions concerning ethics. To some its art but to others it should never be done.

Admin, GMOAnswers. “How GM Papaya Saved Hawaii's Papaya Industry.” GMO Answers, 9 Oct. 2015, gmoanswers.com/how-gm-papaya-saved-hawaii’s-papaya-industry.

“Health Risks.” Institute for Responsible Technology, responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/health-risks/.

Vesna, Victoria. “BioTech + Art.” Lecture 1. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=16300814>.
Vesna, Victoria. “BioTech + Art.” Lecture 3. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=16300814>.“Vacanti Mouse.” 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacanti_mouse.