Week 6: Biotechnology and Art

            This week we learned about biotechnology and art, including the implications it brings to our current society. After watching the lecture videos, I find myself even more intrigued with these two fields and their ultimate effect on benefiting society. As Professor Vesna mentioned in the first lecture video, Joe Davis set the foundation for biotechnology and art. Davis is a pioneer in the field; he paved the way for the current field of biotechnology and art. His work with genes and genomes began through inserting synthesis of DNA into specific bacteria. His audio microscope allows for light information to be translated in sound and continued his work with E. Coli and this bacteria’s response to sounds, specifically producing sounds stressful to the bacteria.

            A bio tech artist who began under Davis is Adam Zaretsky. Most notable for his work with emutagen, Zaretsky has created an embryonic transplant surgery to combine zebrafish embryos with one another. His work has created more research and development for the field of biotechnology as art. His methods are innovative and scientific, as he states that his focus is on the “liminal relationships that are formed at the border between the creation and the destruction of living beings”.

            Looking at both Davis and Zaretsky, I want to bring attention to some of the proposed questions by Ruth West. To begin, I feel that while biotechnology and art is an innovative concept; I feel that academia and science should be of the utmost importance. Therefore, I believe biotechnology should have more stringent restrictions, resulting in more limitations on their field. Although, I have this view limiting biotechnology for science, I do believe there should be no capacity to human creativity. Without creativity, like that of Davis and Zaretsky, our world would not have the variety and abstractness that it has today. Therefore, while I believe that all individuals should have a right to think freely and express themselves, I believe that science and academia should be of more importance towards the progress of society than biotechnology and art.

"Adam Zaretsky." (biography). Web. 07 May 2016.

"Art Biotech." Scoop.it. Web. 07 May 2016.

Bio-artist Adam Zaretsky Sleeps with the Fishes. Web.

"HEAVEN EARTH JOE DAVIS." We Make Money Not Art. 2011. Web. 07 May 2016.

"Joe Davis: The Mad Scientist of MIT?" CultureLab:. Web. 07 May 2016.

"Strains:." VivoArts: Embryonic Sculpting. Web. 07 May 2016.

"SymbioticA Biotechnology & Art Laboratory  //  UWA Workshops 2003-6." SymbioticA. Web. 07 May 2016.

"VivoArts: Microinjection." VivoArts: Microinjection. Web. 07 May 2016.

Event 1: Getty Center

Wishing Well

          The first location within Los Angeles I went to was the Getty Center. The center sits atop a large hill in West Los Angeles and bestows an artistic view of the city. Throughout my visit, I was keen on trying to find art projects or art pieces that correlated to the material we have learned from in class. After visiting the Getty Center I became aware of the effect that the combination that art, math, and science have in our everyday lives. Furthermore, I witnessed the combination of mechanics and art being used together to create a meaningful device for our world.

Stream leading down to the waterfall

            I believe the most prominent site at the Getty Center was the Wishing Well. This well begins atop a hill with a man-made stream that funneled into a running waterfall. This stream was composed of bamboo stick and rock features, where the water ran through it effortlessly. After the stream, the water was dumped into this grandiose wishing well that contained hedges placed in a specific manner to add to the well’s design. For me, the waterfall shows the brilliance that can be created from combining art, math, and science together, as the preciseness and design in the piece gives it a most complete effect.

Windmill

            Secondly, when focusing on mechanics, my attention grew to the metallic windmill that was composed of metal pieces. This windmill was composed differently than the normal white arm windmill; this one had metal pieces that rotated in addition to the rotation of the windmill as a whole. This windmill took great scientific knowledge and artistic ability to manufacture. This precision allows for the windmill to be distinguished high atop the Getty Center.

Proof of attendance: picture with Jean Paul Getty 

            Both the wishing well and the mechanical windmill provide insight into the material we are learning in class having immediate relevance in our actual world. I would highly recommend this event for individuals to attend, as there is a plethora of art works that can be interesting for a large variety of individuals.

Jared_Goldman_DESMA9_Midterm: URL

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B94Dcanwo9smQzQ3R3NJdGw3Nms/view

Week 4: Medical Technology and Art

This week Professor Vesna addressed the role of medicine, the technologies surrounding the medical field, and how the two are related to the world of art. The development of X-rays, CT scans, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines have become a modern day necessity for injuries and finding significant medical issues, such as concussions and finding cancerous tumors. I want to specifically discuss the role that medical machines have significantly developed over time into becoming an integral part of society today.

X-rays are an intrinsic part of our society and used in a plethora of medical situations. Additionally, the creation of x-rays has allowed for it to be implemented in every day life, not only constricted to the medical field. With relation to art, x rays have allowed for artists to delve into new depths of the human body and art, but it can also be used on other everyday materials such as the clothing (seen in the picture).

Secondly, CT scans have become imperative in the imaging of brain function, specifically analyzing potential concussions or tumors. In the art world, CT scans can be seen through Kai-Hung Fung who adds color to the scans themselves, which provide a “rainbow technique”. He allows the images to stand alone, as they are poignant and depicting an individuals brain function.

Lastly, MRI’s are an integral creation and used for a countless number of medical concerns. MRI’s have been able to discover tumors and other serious medical diagnosis. Angela Palmer has taken MRI scans to an elevated art form as she layers glass sheets on top of one another, each with an individual MRI image to create a representation of the imaging which takes place.

All three technologies have had a great impact in our medical world, as well as have allowed for individuals to artistically develop works based off of the development within the medical field.

Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Con Gurations between Science and the Arts." (n.d.): n. pg 73-99. Web.

Jobson, Christopher. "Layered MRI Self-Portraits Engraved in Glass Sheets by Angela Palmer." Colossal. N.p., 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

Massey, Nick. "SELECTED WORKS - Nickveasey." SELECTED WORKS - Nickveasey. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

"Scientific Scans Show Natural Art Inside of Human Bodies | Gadgets, Science & Technology." Gajitz RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

"X-Radiography." The Art Institute of Chicago. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

Week 3: Robotics and Art

            The world we live in today is a result of progress. This progress can be attributed to the industrial revolution where there became the birth of technical and mechanical innovation. Dating back earlier than the industrial revolution, was the cotton gin, America’s first economically beneficial mechanical device, and even further back, Gutenberg’s bible, which led to the mass growth of a product. The innovation of mass reproduction has created a society which new works can be shared with many individuals over great distances.

            However, mass reproduction has its negative effects, as Walter Benjamin writes in his essay about this having a negative affect on art, as its “aura” is diminishing. He claims throughout his writing that the reproduction of a single piece of art loses the value and integrity it should carry standing alone. This is the negative effect of mechanical industrialization and reproduction.  I find this claim to be somewhat valid, a reason why some things are not reproduced; however, for the betterment of society, reproduction is a necessary must and one that has helped develop our society into one of great ingenuity.

            Robotics is the modern model of technological innovation and has impacted our knowledge of the world beyond our pre-established notions. I want to specifically discuss Mars Exploration Rovers as the ideal form of robotics. Rovers were created as a way for our world to discover the complexities of space, specifically the contents that lie on the surface of Mars. This complexity is the combination of mechanical ingenuity, scientific innovation, and artistic designs, all of which are elements that combined are beneficial to our current society. The current Mars Rover project involves the search for water on the surface of the planet, truly displaying the magnitude mechanics and robotics has on our society today.

            Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” Web. 15 Apr. 2016.

"Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Overview." Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Overview. Web. 16 Apr. 2016.

"Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Technology." Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Technology. Web. 16 Apr. 2016.

"Overview - Mars Science Laboratory." Overview - Mars Science Laboratory. Web. 16 Apr. 2016.

            "Opportunity Mars Rover Marks 12 Years on Red Planet." Space.com. Web. 16 Apr. 2016.

            

Week 2: Math + Art

          Mathematics has always been an integral part of my life; a subject I have become very fond of as it has a significant impact on sports statistics and analytics. My vision towards math as a subject has been narrowed to my interests; however, math has a direct impact on both art and science to a much greater effect than I believed.  After this week’s material, I now see art and architecture having significant mathematical influences. Through vanishing points, Leonardo da Vinci’s perspective in his artwork, and the golden ratio, math has a fundamental and structural influence on art.

            Specifically taking a look at the work of vanishing points and perspective from Leonardo Da Vinci we can see the importance math plays on his artwork. A vanishing point in his paintings can be seen where all the lines on a plane that are parallel to one another have the same vanishing point. Using this definition of a vanishing point, the image using the perspective of The Last Summer displays that there is a vanishing point in the center of the artwork just behind the figure of Jesus. This artwork depicts the fundamentals of math, where lines, rectangles, and squares are used in a plethora of ways to create a piece of art representative of something more complex than just basic shapes.

            This week I have learned that artists use mathematics as the most basic and structural part of the artwork as a whole. Math dictates the imagery of the art and how another individual will view the completed piece. Using math, an artist is able to create a foundation to express ideas and concepts that may not have been realized without it.

            The juxtaposition of mathematics, art, and science is that they all are distinctly different subjects, which together can be combined to create more sophisticated elements and products. Mathematics is simply numbers and shapes, while art and science is taking those shapes and extending upon that concept to create a much more sophisticated product.

          

            

            Art and Math. 2013. Art and Math. Web Image. 10 Apr. 2016.

Frantz, Marc. "Vanishing Points and Looking at Art." 2000. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Hague, Matthew. "In Search of the Golden Ratio in Architecture." The Globe and Mail. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Last Supper Perspective Lines. N.d. Leonardo Da Vinci. Web Image. 10 Apr. 2016.

Smith, Sidney B. "The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher." The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.