Hammer Museum: This is the End (Even Pricks)

The Hammer Museum plays host to Ed Atkins' "Even Pricks" exhibit, consisting of an eight-minute loop of the same video. It centers around a promiscuous thumb that is thrusted into many different orifices, including the ear, the eye, the belly button, and the nose. In each of the scenes the thumb in slow motion is somewhat manipulated before penetrating the body either being inflated or dipped in paint. This is similar to how medtech can change the way we manipulate body parts. Was the hand in the video even a real hand? Or was it a prosthetic? Or was it just CGI? Whatever the case, it is proof that artists are using the human body as a canvas to translate their message to the audience.

The entire video is narrated by a chimpanzee who addresses the audience directly. This exhibit really speaks to the neuroscience behind communication and language, and how humans and primates differ. Physically we both share opposable thumbs, a highlight in the video. A major difference is that humans have a much more developed left hemisphere, which is largely responsible for our adeptness for communication. The artists used CGI technology to mimic human speech in monkeys, another example of how technology goes hand and hand with art.

This was a great exhibit to end on, as this exhibit's title symbolizes more than what the artists were trying to get across. The posting of this blog marks the end of my college career here at UCLA.

Fowler Museum: Gagawaka + Postmortem by Vivan Sundaram

What do doctors do with their gloves and masks when they finish surgery? What do nurses do when the patient does not take the pill? Where does all of this equipment go? The normal response is the garbage. However, Vivan Sundaram has transformed many of these now-useless materials into wearable pieces of art. From surgical gloves to medical braces, Sundaram has created beautiful works of art/fashion while making a statement about the waste that comes from the medical field.


A social activist, one of Sundaram's goals is to address the increase in urban waste, particularly garbage that comes from medical facilities. Some of the materials used for his pieces are found at use on the ground. As such, he made his models literally wear the trash beneath their feet while still making a fashion statement.

A dress made from surgical caps

A dress made from x-ray film

My favorite example of his work was inspired by his wife, whom was recently hospitalized. He made a dress using the films from all of the x-rays taken of her to make a sleek and elegant dress. I see his work, and it is both fascinating and disturbing. As I hope to enter the medical field, his work brings up the question: what should we with our stuff after seeing every patient?

Week 9: Space + Art: To Infinty and Beyond

Space, otherwise known as "the Final Frontier", has fascinated scientists as well as artists for centuries. Constellations, auroras, and other planets have sparked many myths and other folklore. The ideas of the heavens and leaving Earth sparked major movements across history, both politically and culturally. Until the invention of the telescope by Galileo, the only way to view space was through your own two eyes. Even then, sailors were able to navigate the oceans, astronomers were able to predict eclipses, and astrologists were able to 'predict the future.'

An aurora created by light refraction in the Arctic

The Space Race, a proxy for the Cold War, was one of the largest endeavors by the United States and the Soviet Union to send the first man to space as a demonstration of the power held by both countries. The accomplishments during this time put men on the moon, and it truly was "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Presently, we as a society know much more about space compared to fifty year ago. There are even plans for us to try and colonize other planets, primarily Mars at the moment.

Neil Armstrong standing on the moon

The results from all of these space missions sparked international interest on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. If you have been relying on science-fiction (sic-fi) as your source for all things alien, you may be surprised that other life may not look like Chewbacca. It just shows that a lot of how we perceive outer space comes from our imagination, or the imagination of writers and movie directors. I think it is amazing how we hope that if there is other life not on Earth, we imagine sentient beings as resembling humans in some way.

Several different interpretations of what aliens may look like (Star Wars)

Reference:

Anders, C. "10 Myths About Space Travel that Make Science Fiction Better." i09.com. 22 Aug 2012. Web. 28 May 2015

Choi, C. "How 'Star Wars' Changed the World." Space.org. 10 Aug 2010. Web. 28 May 2015

"Neil Armstrong." Biography.com. n.d. Web. 28 May 2015

"Where no man has gone before." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May 2015. Web. 28 May 2015.

"Impact of U.S. and Soviet Space Programs on World Opinion." NASA.gov. 7 July 1959. Web. 28 May 2015. http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/july59.html

Week 8: NanoTech + Art: A Lot Less is More

Nanotechnology mixed with art does not follow the same rules. Being approximately a billionth of a meter large, nanotechnology has the ability to change the way scientists study atoms and cells. The end goal, which is to manipulate things on an atomic scale, has become increasingly more realistic, with the invention of quantum dots and nanobots. What was observed is that when we shrink to nanoscale the laws of physics change.

Comparison between small molecules

Current modern applications for nanotechnology include composite materials for helmets, tennis rackets, socks, and (most importantly to me) composite baseball bats. All of these pieces of equipment use nanotechnology and techniques to create a strong, lightweight material that is durable. 

Many things that nanotechnology has had a hand in creating

In terms of art, a popular medium is the usage of tiny bits of conductive metal to create drawings. = Drawings using this particular ink can be charged with electricity to form a circuit on any surface that the pen writes on. This can be a way to revolutionize the way students learn about circuits and how electricity powers our everyday appliances.

Reference:

Anton, P. S. "The Global technology revolution: bio/nano/materials trends and their synergies with information technology by 2015." RAND. Santa Monica, CA. 2001

Boyle, R. "7 Amazing Ways Nanotechnology is Changing the World."

Gimweski, J. Vesna, V. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science." 26 Jan 2014. Web. 23 May 2015

"Benefits and Applications." National Nanotechnology Initiative. Nano.gov. Web. 24 May 2015

"Circuit Scribe: Draw Circuits Instantly" Electroninks Incorporated. electronics.com. Web. 24 May 2015

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

Art is the medium through which we visualize and/or verbalize the human consciousness and human emotion. Neuroscience encompasses the scientific realm behind trying to discover the human consciousness through the study of the brain and nervous system.

Santiago Ramon y Cajal's visualization of chick's cerebellum

Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Camillo Golgi, two scientists who shared the 1906 Nobel Prize in Physiology, laid the foundation for modern neuroscience in their work visualizing the nervous system. While both were able to show the nervous system to the general public for the first time, each scientist had a separate opinion on how connections between cells worker. Golgi believed that the nervous system was a giant interconnected system, while Cajal was an advocate for the independent neuron theory. Cajal was able to visualize individual neurons, supporting his theory as well as portraying neurons for the first time.

3-D mapping of the human brain

Current technology allows us to image the brain in real-time. Both artists and scientists use this ability to record our reactions to different stimuli, which Frazzetto and Anker have said to reflect how 'the water of the physical brain is turned into the wine of consciousness.' Because each memory and thought has a different system of neurons firing, a real-time imaging system may allow us to equate certain patterns to independent thoughts. The superposition of these images combined with computers allow for scientists and artists to look at the 3-dimensional structure of the brain and its firing patterns during certain situations.

A possible side effect from ingesting LSD

Recreational drugs have a vast effect on the human mind and psyche, a reason why they are so heavily regulated and in some cases illegal in the United States. One that was discussed in detail was the usage of LSD, and its widespread usage up until its prohibition in 1968. Originally thought to be a psychiatric drug, it is known to be a hallucinogen and can cause changes in the user's perception of time and space.




References:

De Carlos, J.A., Borrell, José. "A historical reflection of the contributions of Cajal and Golgi to the foundations of neuroscience." Brain Research Reviews. ScienceDirect. 2007. 55:(8-16)

Frazzetto, G., Anker, S. "Neuroculture." Science and Society. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. November 2009. 10:(815-821). 16 May 2015

Huang, M. "The Neuroscience of Art." Reviews and Features. Stanford Journal of Neuroscience. PDF. May 2015

Jung, C.G. "The Spiritual Problem with Modern Man." PDF. May 2015

"Lysergic acid diethyamide."Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. 27 April 2015. Web. 16 May 2015

Week 6: Biotech + Art: Let it Glow But Maybe That's It

Glowing insect
http://galleryhip.com/green-fluorescent-protein.html

Bioart, the incorporation of gene modification into non-host animals for aesthetics, was originally created for research purposes. Because humans are changing the natural order of animals, genetically modified organisms (aka GMOs) have been the topic of debate for quite some time now. The purpose of experimenting with these animals is to better understand how biological systems work, and now in some cases, manipulate them in order to be aesthetically pleasing. One of the most common methods of mixing biology and art is through GFP, a glowing fluorescent protein gene that was originally found in jellyfish that now can be seen in many model organisms. The use of this technique is what some may consider the first step to creating the perfect organism, and a sci-fi vision of what could happen is summed up nicely in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park. In this movie, researchers recover dinosaur DNA from which they are able to revive animals that have been extinct for millions of years.

Dinosaurs from Jurassic Park
http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/every-jurassic-park-dinosaur-from-best-to-worst.html

One of the main issues with the genetic manipulation of animals is the argument that treatment of these animals is inhumane. Animal activists view both scientists and artists as what Chris Kelty calls 'hackers', in a way outlaws of biology because they are causing suffering to animals for what they see as no good reason. While scientists claim their work as for the greater good, I have not seen or heard of benefits from bioart. That being said, I don't think that bioart should be treated the same way as research. Granted, people have the right to turn their own bodies into a medium for art. However, there is a line that should be drawn when using other cognitive beings to create art. I do not have the answers for where this argument should leave, although I think a good thing to consider is this quote from Jurassic Park: "Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could they didn't stop to think if they should." 


References:

Kelty, Chris. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?" UCLA. 10 May 2015

Levy, Ellen. "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications." 10 May 2015

Bioart. Wikipedia. wikipeida.org. 27 March 2015. Web. 10 May 2015 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioArt>

"Why Animal Rights?" PETA. peta.org. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/why-animal-rights/>

Jurassic Park. Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1993. Film

Week 4: Medtech + Art - Everything is About our Bodies

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the human body, especially the processes that go about repairing damage both internally and cosmetically. These processes have created a major factor driving me to pursue a career in medicine and the care of the human body. Viewing the body has always been a point of interest for physicians, as imaging of the body has evolved from drawings of dissections to 3D scans. The portrayal of the human body all depends on the nature of the person viewing the image: do they want to see the internal organs of the body, do they want to see the proportion of the body relative to its function, or do they just want to see the exterior to capture the beauty of a human body.

The homunculus, and the corresponding cortical regions
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html

Having a background in neuroscience, I have been exposed to the importance of neural control of our body. This brings me to the homunculus - a graphic representation of the importance of what sections of our body require the most brainpower. As seen here and in many other representations, the human brain prioritizes certain parts of the body, mainly the limbs that have dexterity and the mouth. The reason certain parts of the body have more brain region dedicated to it is that we rely a lot on our ability to handle objects as well as to taste food. The homunculus is an excellent example of an illustration based on function, which many physicians use today for assessing brain injuries.

A patient with Surgical Marker indicating areas meant for surgery

With the advancement of medical practices also comes the evolution of the roles that physicians play in general. The Hippocratic Oath that physicians have made since the time of the ancient Greeks is an example of this change in principle. What used to be a simple promise to treat patients to the best of their abilities has become bogged down by legal liability and changes in perspective on sensitive issues like abortion and euthanasia. Another ethical dilemma that certain specialized physicians encounter is the possibility of plastic surgery. Originally invented to return veterans with severe wounds to normal appearances, reconstructive surgery began being implemented on everyday citizens who wished to change something cosmetic about their body. Issues include the possibility for minors to get plastic surgery and the risks outweighing the benefits.

A cadaver in position for the shot.
http://itsnogrannysmith.com/2012/07/19/bodies

Another ethical dilemma for human bodies and art is the portrayal of actual humans as art exhibits. The main ones I refer to are exhibits that have human bodies on display. It has real people who have died portrayed in daily activities. The ethical concern comes from how the bodies are obtained: there is no clear proof of consent for the sources of many bodies that are exhibited in shows like this. Despite the origin of the bodies, the portrayals of people in everyday situations has a kind of beauty to it when you know what your body looks like and how it works when you shoot a basketball.



Reference:

Derycke, Pieter. "Feeding Your Homunculus: Food for Thought."WordPress.com. WordPress.com. 14 Oct 2013. Web. 22 April 2015

"Forever Young: The Rise of Plastic Surgery in the Age of the Selfie." redorbit.com. RedOrbit.com 30 Nov 2014. Web. 22 April 2015

Mousavi, Seyed-Reza. "The Ethics of Aesthetic Surgery." Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2010 Jan-Apr 3(1): 38-40 Web. 22 April 2015

Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." NOVA. PBS. 27 March 2001. Web. 22 April 2015

Ulaby, Neda. "Origins of Exhibited Cadavers Questioned." npr.com/science. NPR.com. 11 Aug 2006. Web. 22 April 2015