Week 9: Space and Art

The relationship between science fiction and actual science is a delicate one. There are many movies and TV shows that portray unrealistic visions of how the universe works—especially regarding the setting of space. However, there are many cases where science fiction provided the idea or inspiration for scientific research and discovery. For example, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote The Fountains of Paradise in 1979 where the main characters builds a space elevator. While an actual space elevator has never been built yet, there are many companies and researchers who are inspired to try to build such an elevator to reduce the cost of transportation to space. The Japanese company Obayashi Corp. plans to have an operational space elevator by 2050 made of carbon nanotubes.

NASA artist rendition of a space elevator

Besides books, movies are also inspiring scientific discovery about space. To make the special effects depiction of the wormhole and blackhole accurate in the movie Interstellar, director Christopher Nolan brought on astrophysicist Kip Thorne to work with his team. Using Thorne’s theoretical mathematical equations, the special effects teams’ computers discovered what a blackhole would actually look like. Before this, it had only ever been conceived theoretically.

Kip Thorne's rendering of a black hole in Interstellar

In addition, astrophysicist Jeanne Cavelos was inspired by the books and movies of Star Wars to write a book called The Science of Star Wars exploring the scientific potential of the futuristic depictions of that world. In her book she discusses such possibilities like space travel, hyperspace, light sabers, artificially intelligent robots, and spaceships.

Star Wars Poster

While not all science fiction may be scientifically feasible, it is certainly a source of ideas and creativity for scientists to research and explore.

References

Cavelos, Jeanne. "Science of Star Wars." Macmillian Publishers. 2000. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fus.macmillan.com%2Fthescienceofstarwars%2Fjeannecavelos>. 

Fleming, Nic. "Should We Give up on the Dream of Space Elevators?" BBC. 19 Feb. 2015. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Ffuture%2Fstory%2F20150211-space-elevators-a-lift-too-far>. 

Lucasfilm. Star Wars. Digital image. IFC. Lucasfilm, 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://images.amcnetworks.com/ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/103012-star-wars111.jpeg>. 

Mack, Eric. "Japanese Company Plans to Have Space Elevator "up" and Running by 2050." Gizmag. 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.gizmag.com/obayashi-space-elevator/21587/>. 

NASA. A NASA Artist's Rendition of a Space Elevator. Digital image. Gizmag. 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://images.gizmag.com/hero/obayashi.jpg>. 

Rogers, Adam. "WRINKLES IN SPACETIME: The Warped Astrophysics of Interstellar." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, Oct. 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.wired.com/2014/10/astrophysics-interstellar-black-hole/>. 

Sterling, Bruce. "Science Influenced by Science Fiction." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 22 Sept. 2010. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.wired.com/2010/09/science-influenced-by-science-fiction/>. 

Thorne, Kip. Executive Producer and Theoretical Physicist Kip Thorne's Rendering of a Black Hole in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. Digital image. Dazed. 24 Oct. 2015. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://dazedimg.dazedgroup.netdna-cdn.com/786x700/azure/dazed-prod/1090/6/1096226.jpg>. 

Tsjeng, Zing. "Sci-fi Film Interstellar Leads to New Scientific Discovery." Dazed. 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/22292/1/sci-fi-film-interstellar-leads-to-new-scientific-discovery>.

Week 8: Nanotechnology and Art

What surprises me most about nanotechnology is how it is already incorporated into so many products that I use on a regular basis such as sunscreen, cosmetics, and food and I had little previous knowledge of its existence. It was especially startling to hear about such shady products like the Chocolate Slim Shakes that are nanoparticles coated in chocolate. Dr. Gimzewski discussed in his lecture that more research is needed to understand the true long-term risks or benefits of using nanotechnology in these kinds of products. Could I be unknowingly harming my health by using these products?

Summary of uses of Nanotechnology in food

Though there is still some uncertainty surrounding it, nanotechnology has also opened up a new artistic world to explore on the nano-scale. For example, in 2004 Ghim Wei Ho, a PhD student in nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge, made nanoflowers using nanotechnology. These images of nanoflowers taken with a scanning electron microscope are both beautiful and have great scientific potential to be used in new types of solar cells or water repellant coatings.

Nanoflower Bouquet by Ghim Wei Ho

Nano Sunflower by Ghim Wei Ho

While Ghim Wei Ho’s work appears to be a positive product of nanotechnology, other artists have recognized the potential for destructive results of nanotechnology. Artist Darcy Lewis created Nebula of Man in hopes to inspire others to stay away from nanotechnology’s potential to be used in weapons and other negative uses and to stay focused on its beneficial uses such as in medicine. The image was made using layers of nano images and others to show the effects of nanotechnology to our larger world and universe.

Nebula of Man: Computer manipulation by Darcy Lewis

Nanotechnology has a lot of potential to either positively or negatively impact the world. Hopefully the products that are already in use today and those in the future will be like Ghim Wei Ho’s nanoflowers rather than the questionable Chocolate Slim Shakes.

References

Darcy, Lewis. Nebula of Man. Digital image. The New York Times. N.p., 17 Jan. 2008. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/01/17/technology/17DarcyLewis_Nebula.jpg>. 

Duncan. Applications of Nanotechnology in Food Packaging and Food Safety: Barrier Materials, Antimicrobials and Sensors. Digital image. MDPI. N.p., 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.mdpi.com/polymers/polymers-06-02247/article_deploy/html/images/polymers-06-02247-g008-1024.png>. 

"Fantastic Nano-Voyage." Astrobiology Magazine. N.p., 24 June 2004. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.astrobio.net/topic/exploration/robotics-a-i/fantastic-voyage/>. 

Ho, Ghim Wei. Nano Sunflower. Digital image. Nanotechnology Now. N.p., 2004. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanotech-now.com/images/Art_Gallery/GWH-sunflower-sm.jpg>. 

Ho, Ghim Wei. Nanoflower Bouquet. Digital image. Nanotechnology Now. N.p., 2004. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanotech-now.com/images/Art_Gallery/GWH-bouquet-sm.jpg>. 

Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists, Part 6. By James K. Gimzewski. Youtube. N.p., 21 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=oKlViSKkPd0>. 

Lang, Tim, and Frans Kampers. "Nanotechnology in Food: More than a Question of Taste." The Guardian. N.p., 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fwhat-is-nano%2Fnanotechnology-food-more-than-question-taste>. 

Lewis, Darcy. "Is NanoArt the New Photography?" The New York Times. N.p., 17 Jan. 2008. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fslideshow%2F2008%2F01%2F17%2Ftechnology%2F20080117_NANOART_SLIDESHOW_3.html>. 

Ortiz, Christina. "Wait, There's Nanotech in My Food?" Popular Mechanics. N.p., 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a12790/wait-theres-nanotechnology-in-my-food-16510737/>. 

Piquepaille, Roland. "Would You Like a Bouquet of Nanoflowers?" Roland PiquePailla's Technology Trends. N.p., June 2004. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://radio-weblogs.com/0105910/2004/06/22.html>.

Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

The brain is perhaps the most important organ in the human body. It is what controls our body as well as our conscious and unconscious thoughts. It is a complex structure that we are still trying to understand and I believe art is playing an important role of expanding this understanding. For example, artist Megan Mcglynn is using sculpture to help explore and visualize how humans organize their thoughts and functions in their brains. Her artistic piece Mirror Neurons was created with the idea that it is the mirror neurons in the brain that has allowed humans to transfer knowledge through imitation but with each transfer there are alternations and connections made.

Mirror Neurons by Megan Mcglynn

In addition, artist Greg Dunn has created artistic microetchings of the neural landscape of the brain. Since the brain is so complex and detailed, 2D images of it can be confusing and overwhelming. However, the microetching technique allows the observer to see each layer of the landscape of the brain individually as the light on the microetching changes.

An Introduction to Microetching

Finally, the artist Audrius Plioplys creates art to investigate the brain and its relation to thinking and consciousness. In his artwork Dreamscapes, he uses neuronal profiles along with his own MRI Scans to create beautiful lights that change color. His intent is to explore the origins of the brain relating to dreaming and creativity.

Dreamscapes by Audrius Plioplys

What all these artists have in common is using their art to try to help us gain a better understanding of neuroscience. By creating visual interpretations of the brain, artists can help bring a new perspective of how the brain works and how it gives each person their unique consciousness and creativity.  

References

Dunn, Greg A. "Microetchings." Greg Dunn Design. 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.gregadunn.com/category/microetchings/>. 

"Gallery + Interview: Megan McGlynn." Interview by Noah Hutton. The Beautiful Brain. 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://thebeautifulbrain.com/2013/09/megan-mcglynn/>. 

"Greg Dunn: Gallery + Interview." Interview by Noah Hutton. The Beautiful Brain. 9 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://thebeautifulbrain.com/2011/11/interview-gallery-greg-dunn/>. 

"Http://www.neurorexia.com/2014/11/18/sfn14-art-of-neuroscience-with-megan-mcglynn/." Interview by Shelly Fan. Neurorexia. 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.neurorexia.com/2014/11/18/sfn14-art-of-neuroscience-with-megan-mcglynn/>. 

Introduction to Microetching. Dir. Greg Dunn. Greg A Dunn Design. YouTube, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. 

Mcglynn, Megan. Mirror Neurons. Digital image. M. Mcglynn. 2013. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://static1.squarespace.com/static/514a7bb9e4b0896b363590b1/546193aee4b0edd3bdd9eb0b/546193cce4b0ccac6b5c2cfb/1415684371664/Mirror_1.jpg?format=1000w>. 

Plioplys, Audrius V. "Artistic Explorations of Thought." AUDRIUS V. PLIOPLYS MD. 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.plioplys.com/dreamscapes.php>. 

Plioplys, Audrius V. Dreamscapes 1. Digital image. Audrius V. Plioplys. 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.plioplys.com/Dreamscapes-1-624.jpg>.

Event 3 - Making Strange: Gagawaka + Postmortem at the Fowler Museum

This week I visited the Making Strange exhibit at the UCLA Fowler Museum by Indian artist Vivian Sundaram. This exhibit was a combination of two of his bodies of work Gagawaka and Postmortem. His Gagawaka pieces are clothing made of recycled materials or medical supplies while his Postmortem pieces are mannequins, dummies, or anatomical models that are reconstructed in new ways.

Me at the exhibit

Sundaram’s art is a great example of art and the science of medicine coming together to reflect on the human condition. All of the pieces present a stark contrast of the good and the bad parts of being human. For example, he made a suit out of used medicine wrappers as a part of Gagawaka. The result was a very beautiful, shiny, wearable suit but it also reflects human dependency on drugs.

Silverfoil Suit made of medicine wrappers

 

His women’s outfit made of surgical masks is similar in nature. The outfit is beautiful and fashionable but it also represents the painful plastic surgery women sometimes submit themselves to in order to achieve a specific beauty ideal.

Immunity made of surgical masks

His Postmortem work is darker in nature because of its stark exposure of the human body through the reconstruction of parts of mannequins and anatomical models. For example, the piece below combines a decomposing bottom half of a mannequin that is filled with the full teaching model of the body. While the model is precise and shows the detailed and complicated beauty of the human body, the mannequin is falling apart representing the inevitable pain, fragility, and destruction of an aging person.

Combination of mannequin and anatomical model

I would highly recommend a visit to this exhibit. The pieces are a unique vision of medicine technology, anatomy, and art coming together to create a discussion about the beauty and pain of the human body. In addition, for my final, I intend to try to incorporate Sundaram’s creative use of ordinary items.

Week 6: BioTech and Art

Genetic modification of living organisms is a controversial subject for scientists, but especially for artists. For example, the artist Kac’s bunny “Alba” glows green when under a black light because it was genetically modified with a fluorescent protein taken from the Aequorea victoria jellyfish. There was much protest from animal rights activists who claimed that it was unnecessary and abusive as well as from scientists who claimed it was not more than a novelty. While Alba may not have been created for pure scientific advancement, Alba brought up stimulating discussions about the nature of biotechnology, genetic modification, and animal use in scientific research. Despite the controversy, Alba demonstrates why it is important that artists be involved in biotechnology research.

Some artists are recognizing the public fear of genetically modified organisms and have created art to show how it is not a bad. For example, Keira Havens and Nikolai Braun at Revolution Bio created the Petunica circadia, a flower that is genetically engineered to beautifully change colors during the day. It was intended to show that biotechnology can be used to create more beautiful organisms that appeal to everyone.

The Petunica circadia

In addition, artist Sam Van Aken created the “Tree of 40 Fruit,” in which he sculpted a tree using grafting to create a tree that produced over 40 different varieties of fruit including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and almonds. This is another example of an artist manipulating a living organism to create something beautiful and productive that benefits society.

The Tree of 40 Fruit

Finally, the video game Spore explores a world where the player create their own organism starting from a simple cell and genetically modifies it until it is a large creature in any way they please. Depending on the players’ genetic choices, the world around the organisms changes. This is an interesting exploration of human manipulation of organisms that portrays genetic modification in a friendly and optimistic light.

Spore Trailer

Artists play an important role in showing how genetic modification of organisms can make the world a more beautiful place and that it does not need to be feared. While there is a lot of controversy surrounding the topic, artists have worked to show that the results of genetic manipulation are not all necessarily bad and have sparked important discussions about genetically engineering organisms. 

References

Aken, Sam V. The Tree of 40 Fruit. Digital image. Sam Van Aken. 2014. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.treeof40fruit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Tree-for-web-rect-989x700.jpg>. 

Aken, Sam V. "The Tree of 40 Fruit." SAM VAN AKEN. 2014. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.samvanaken.com/?works=tree-of-40-fruit>. 

Braun, Nikolai. Petunica Circadia. Digital image. IndieGoGo. Apr. 2015. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://images.indiegogo.com/file_attachments/1325415/files/20150325101101-petunia_timelapse.gif?1427303461>. 

Delgado, Rick. "How Artists Are Blending Biotechnology And Art." MakeUseOf. 8 May 2015. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/artists-blending-biotechnology-art/>. 

Misra, Risa. "This Tree Is Growing 40 Different Kinds Of Fruit At Once." Io9. 22 July 2014. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://io9.com/this-tree-is-growing-40-different-kinds-of-fruit-at-onc-1608917128>. 

Onion, Amanda. "Artist's Glowing, Live Rabbit Creation Causes Fuss." ABC News. ABC News Network, 19 Sept. 2015. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=119939>. 

Riquelme, Lourdes. "Petunica Circadia, Where Art and Biotechnology Meet - Labiotech.eu." Labiotecheu. 06 Mar. 2015. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://labiotech.eu/petunica-circadia-where-art-and-biotechnology-meet/>. 

Spore Game Trailer. Youtube. EA, 28 Dec. 2008. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUFLou_d4uw>.