SPACE + ART

At first, I thought this week’s topic would revolve around outer space and art not just empty or used space. The connection between outer space and art is quite frankly obvious. The stars and colors of different galaxies light ignite our imaginations and are simply stunning. However, art and space have a less obvious connection. Space affects art as much as any other of the more traditional factors, like color and light. Art can create a space just as easily as it can be created by space. Brian Holmes discusses space and art through the Makrolab, which he deems “the art of transition” Makrolab is a travelling lab. Easily assembled and  outfitted with eco technology (solar panels and windmills), the Makrolab is a “living laboratory." The space that it occupies and  exterior, edges, zoning and other  technical aspects. 

Space in terms of positive and negative space for art works. Black and white illusion paintings or prints are the more obvious forms of use of space in at. The different colors in the space outline different lines and objects that create art forms.For example, in the picture above, you see both faces and vase depending on which space you focus on, the negative or positive. Beyond colors and perspective, space itself can be art. For example, interactive museums like the exploratorium in San Francisco and telescope centers by NASA are all spaces dedicated to art and revolving around art. The interactive museums utilize space to recreate conditions, light, and color to immerse individuals in art. The experience of art can also be intensified by the space it is in. Certain exhibits are put under different lighting conditions, adding to the mood of the art piece and to the mood of the individual observing the piece.

Sources

Holmes, Brian. "Makrolab, or Art in Transition." Word Press. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/>.

"Space and Art." - NASA Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/05/space-and-art.html>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Powers of Ten." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Intro." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Intro." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

Pictures

http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/uploaded_files/other_files/0006/0536/NASA_HiddenUniverse_03.jpg

http://thejointblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/nasa.jpg

http://blog.powersof10.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Vase+Face+Illusion.jpg

EVENT 3: ACADEMY OF THE SCIENCES

On November 22^rd I visited the California Academy of the Sciences in San Francisco with my family. The Academy of Sciences is similar to the Exploratorium in San Francisco in that it tries to create interactive learning and exhibits that are appealing to groups of all ages. This museum is dedicated to scientific research and educational outreach and does so by creating exhibits that combine the principles of science with the beauty of art and space.

My sister Kira and I standing in line for the rainforest dome

I went to all the exhibits, from the earth quake simulator to the indoor “Rainforests of the World” dome. All the exhibits were art projects in essence, because they used real life references (rain forests and earthquake data) to recreate this space in a safe, confined, and beautiful manner. Everyone’s experience of both exhibits is unique, similar to the way individuals interpret works of art. The exhibits reminded of our earlier look into how art and technology can overlap in more ways than we realize. The Academy of the Sciences is "advertised" as a space for science learning so it is easy to see how one could miss the connection between art and science that is heavily present here.

Butterfly inside rain forest dome.

The Academy of Sciences, although not a traditional "art exhibit" is in essence an art museum. The rain forest dome uses technology to recreate rain forest climate conditions, from humidity to dew and temperature. However, it is the surrounding space that brings the whole exhibit together. As you make your way up the dome, spiraling upwards, you view different heights of the canopy. Each canopy heights looks different with plants of various colors and trees of varying height. Butterflies of all colors and sizes float around you. The exhibit is a live work of art. The colors, light, and angles or perspectives of the dome are dynamic but are nonetheless fundamentally the same as a painting. All these factors lend the the experience of the exhibit.

In front of the butterfly panels

There are also more obvious forms of art and science intertwined throughout the museum. The hallways of the museum have different "mini art works" For example, one wall had different drawings of butterflies and other insects, in different colors creating a collage of beautifully depicted insects. Other wall created patterns with pictures and drawings of insects and animals.

Earthquake Simulator

EVENT 2: La Brea Tar Pits

I visited the La Brea Tar Pits for the first time. Although I grew up in Los Angeles I had never been to this museum. The most striking area of the museum was of course the tar pits and the mammoths, carefully positioned in the tar pits.

Although traditionally this would not be considered art because the tar pits are an outdoor venue, I realized that the tar pits are more than an outdoor exhibit they are a beautiful rendition of what life was like millions of years ago. The tar pits were like a real life photograph, they portray a still of life as it was before humans and the tragic death of the mammoths.

The exhibit reminded me of the lesson we had on space and and the effects it has on art. Although this is not a rendition of mammoths on mars, space does affect this exhibit. This exhibit is all about physical space and creating an environment that simulates/replicates a moment in time. Every detail of the space is geared toward sensory imagery. The tar pits bubble, providing background noise to the scene unfolding in front of your eyes. The mammoths are huge, giving you an impression of their grandeur and yet their vulnerability as they are swallowed by the black tar.

The more I stared at the exhibit the more  I was able to see just how much more I enjoyed this version of art more so than a traditional painting. If the tar pits had been depicted on a 2D painting, would the result be as striking? Of course not! The beauty of the tar pits lies in that an individual can  experience the art, from different angles and as if they themselves were in the presence of these mammoth beasts!

my ticket

Art + Neuroscience

The human mind and its processes have always intrigued the scientific community and beyond. Our consciousness is something very real and something that we each relate to every day. Even if we do not realize it, by contemplating ideas and discussing dreams (brain processes) with others, we are trying to make sense of our brain! For me, it is easy to understand how art and the neuroscience can meld because both topics are relatively abstract. The famous Sigmund Freud, was interested in understanding the human mind, however, his ideas were far beyond his time. Because technology that maps brains and chemical reactions int he brain was not available during Freud's time, he had to be somewhat creative with his brain theories. For example, to understand the reason behind sexual development and its relation to the brain. Today, Freud's theories are considered little more than fairy tales. In this sense, it took creativity and a sense of imagination from Freud to try and understand the mind and what it accomplished without actually seeing any physical evidence of chemical reactions in the brain.

Neurologist Ramachandra talks about the different injury to brains and how they affect one's perception. For example, damaging the front of your brain will leave you unable to recognize faces, even your own. His work not only shows the degree of importance of a healthy brain, it also demonstrates that the brain is what controls the most basic of human processes, image processing. The ability to interpret what you see is all in the brain! This idea is further explored by Bateson who shares an anecdote about a class he taught on biology. In his class, he challenged art students to come up with ways to convince him that a crab (a dead one) was once a living organism. To this challenge, his students answered in the best terms they could, using qualities usually tied to art to describe the crab. They noted the symmetry of its arm, it's organic shape, and proportions. To Bateson's surprise, their description of the crab was rhythmic, like music, like art. Bateson's anecdote ties directly into Ramachandra's notion that the brain is the only part of the human body capable of interpretation and recognition. IN this sense, it is impossible to see how art and neuroscience are not connected. Art is a direct result of the human mind. Art is the brain's attempt at understanding its surroundings. Art can come from no other place than the human consciousness.

Sources:

Bateson, G. "Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity." N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://www.oikos.org/mind&nature.htm>.

Noe, Alva. "Art and the Limits of Neuroscience." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/art-and-the-limits-of-neuroscience/?_r=0>.

Ramachandran. "On Your Mind." TEDTalks. N.d. Television.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience + Art Lecture PART I." DESMA 9. UCLA.


Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience + Art Lecture PART II." DESMA 9. UCLA.

Image Sources:

http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/07/120705172044-large.jpg

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/08/01/istock_000011321340xsmall_custom-479ce8b2e39774bdcf54d93347aa0ed877fc03bc-s6-c30.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_SWu9a0J8RnizMAEQ3m1jGjTskqd4yemziwNPfo306Zsp8cwnIUKzDdAm0iBvZQtUEjXu680DhUbIr65yAlfI3slaMK-mBKpGuQngnbZVhsBwo0kzorRpHfHplIA7dPgOYSgzF7nfMDd/s1600/freud.jpg

EVENT 1: LACMA

My ticket

I visited LACMA this past Wednesday and was impressed at the amount of art of different mediums displayed along their blank, white walls. There was paintings and sculptures, all perfect placed in a spot against the white LACMA walls. The museum felt just like I expected, a dull and lifeless place. I was expecting to feel excited about the artwork and its surroundings but something about the white walls kept throwing me off. I felt like I was in an area where the art was something I could not relate to. I felt as if I was in a medical office, where you couldn't touch anything for fear of accidentally doing something you could not undo. I felt very out of place at LACMA. After viewing the paintings, I finally got to see the rows of famous street lights that everyone recognizes as LACMA. My whole experience at LACMA changed because of this exhibit. Even though they were "everyday" items I was blown away by them. The light poles seemed so out of place but so beautiful at the same time. I though it strange that someone would think that joining all these light poles together would be considered art. I can attest to the beauty and wonder of this exhibit, however. As I weaved in and out of the poles I found myself lost in its light and uniformity. It reminded me of the LA city skyline you can see from far. It was beautiful even though the light posts aren't considered traditional art. I guess that is the beauty of it, that it is not traditional. You can interpret the lights anyway you like, just like a painting, but its affect on individuals is much more grand. You ca touch them, take pictures near them, dance around them, it is a beautiful experience to know that you are immersed in art.

BioTech + Art

Biotechnology can be defined as the exploitation or "manipulation of biological process for industrial purposes." Although this very technical definition fails to reveal the connection between art and biotechnology, it does explain the core of biotechnology and the basis for how it could influence art. Biotechnology has allowed for manipulation of biological beings in unconventional ways, including methods that interconnect with art. 

Eduardo Kac used the science of biotechnology to genetically modify rabbits in such a way that they would glow a fluorescent green. Beyond "green bunnies," however, biotechnology has made the notion of like as a expressive medium more attainable. Art forms like tattoos and plastic surgery from last weeks art topic are more obvious forms of utilizing one's body as an expressive medium but biotechnology allows us to manipulate from the inside out. The green fluorescent bunny could be seen as the beginning of a generation of unique and beautiful beings based on genetic modification. In essence, biotechnology has moved us beyond whether life can be an expressive medium and into a different question:  is it moral or just to use our own and other's bodies for the purpose of art if it involves manipulation in a biological sense? Some may argue that this type of modification is similar to playing god, even if the outcome is for personal expression. 

While the green fluorescent rabbits may be a more extreme and blatant example of biotechnology as "art" modification, other forms of genetic modification exist. One of the more controversial forms of modifications is genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs have been genetically altered to be resistance to different diseases and also to be more aesthetically pleasing. Attributes like color intensity and size are selected genetically because the appearance of a fruit or vegetable is often the only characteristic that people use to select which foods to eat or buy. People cannot see nutritional attributes like vitamins, however, the reddest and brightest tomato may be used by people to designate the tomato as healthy or delicious.

Beyond GMO vegetables and fruits, animals have long been breed for certain characteristics. In the past, animals were bred based on characteristics like which cow would produce more milk, which animals was the largest or prettiest, this in itself was a form of genetic modification although not as advanced as biotechnology. Either way, the outcome was an "art form" in itself. The resultign animal would have certain attributes that the creator or "artist" desired. Today, biotechnology has allowed for extreme modifications of animals. For example, the "super cows" of China have been genetically engineered  to produce milk resembling human breast milk. More striking, however, is there sheer size. More than double the size of a regular cow, these cows resemble the physique of body builders. People have gone so far as to call these animals beautiful, because there body mass seems equivalent to that of a body builder intent on perfecting his physique. Biotechnology has opened a new realm of art, one that uses the biological processes of organisms to achieve new aesthetic and genetic heights. Whether this can be considered art is something very controversial, and although it is unclear if genetic modification will ever truly be considered an art form suitable for humans, biotechnology and those who practice it are pioneers in the relationship between beauty and technology.

Sources:

"GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>.

"Is There a Place For Genetically Modified Animals In Your Future?" BestThinking / Trending Topics / Science /. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://www.bestthinking.com/trendingtopics/science/is-there-a-place-for-genetically-modified-animals-in-your-future>.

"Super Weed Can't Be Killed." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8767877>.

"'Super Weed' Taking Strong Hold in Utah | Ksl.com." 'Super Weed' Taking Strong Hold in Utah | Ksl.com. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=6754314>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt1 1280x720." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I>.

Vesna, Victoria. "BioTech Intro NEW." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded>.

"What Is Biotechnology?" BIO. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov. 2013. <http://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology>.

Images:

http://drstevebest.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/zzzzz1.jpg

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/ABC_KITV_Green_Bunnies_jt_130813_16x9_608.jpg

http://www.drodd.com/images9/Crazy%20Body%20Tattoo/Crazy-Body-Tattoo7.jpeg

http://gmo-freephoenix.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/gmo-tomato.jpg

Midterm

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7cDTs3v8zjnUmYyN2FUTng5RUE/edit?usp=sharing