Nanotech + Art

When we retrace the progress of technology, the trend of technology apparently is making things as small as possible. The evolution of mobile phones is a great example to illustrate the phenomena. While looking back over a distance of a century, the classic brick phone, which was named The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, was a big step of the invention of handheld mobile. But, it was not the end of making the communication devices more smaller and easier to carry-on, and it is the goal that people constantly striving for excellence. Nowadays, we are using the “Smart Phones” in which have been becoming our daily necessities and personal belongings. Indeed, they are portable with a pocket-size and intellectual. Curiously, what is the idea and the way to make “The Smaller” possible, not only for phones but also for everything? After watching the video “Making Stuff: Smaller” which was credit by David Pouge, a new version of future technologies is impressed into my mind. Plus, the video make me believe much more that future technologies will depend on tiny stuff, even invisible, which is against the concept of the past “seeing is believing.”

bone audio speaker at the nanoscale

The lecture of this week is taking about nanotechnology and art. According to the video, we have been taught about the history of nanotechnology and its concept. Nanotechnology was introduced in 1959 by a scientist, Richard Feynman. He did not give the term “nanotechnology” in his lecture “There’s plenty of Room at the Bottom”, instead, he provided the idea of narrowing the focus to the smaller particles of items. The idea certainly have been influencing strongly in today’s technology. Doubtlessly, nanotech spans much of areas, such as chemistry, medicine, or even art.

By visiting a web page of The Art.Base, it details an event of international arts festival exhibition which was showing the unique works that developed for art in the age of nanotechnology. All creations were operated at the intersection of art, science, and technology. The exhibition certainly demonstrated the innovative idea of the collaboration of contemporary art, science, and technology. The creation, Boo Chapple- Transjuicer, turns me on because the project is to make audio speakers out of bone at the nanoscale.

Pandora flowers Courtesy Jian Shi, University of Wisconsin

In short, science surely can produce art and most of art works show materials smaller, more delicate and beautiful. The Professor, Victoria Vesna, who is also a chair of the UCLA Department of Design/Media Art, has said “new science is about a shift in our perception of reality from a purely visual culture to one based on sensing and connectivity.” It is enjoyable to browse the art-works with novel skills of technology; meanwhile, it is good to learn about new nanoscale materials and their potential used.

Reference:

1. Vesna, Victoria. "Nanotech Intro." YouTube. UCOnlineProgram, 26 March 2012. Web. 28 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvp924_pbgc.

2. Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 3." YouTube. UCOnlineProgram, 21 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108.

3. Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 2." YouTube. UCOnlineProgram, 21 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=76&v=HEp6t0v-v9c.

4. Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 4." YouTube. UCOnlineProgram, 21 May 2012. Web. 28 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=103&v=yHCuZetAIhk.

5.Lovgren, Stefan. "Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier to Understand?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 23 Dec. 2003. Web. 29 May 2017. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1223_031223_nanotechnology.html>

6. Lilley, Maiken. "The Art of Nanotech." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 29 May 2017. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/art-nanotech.html>

7. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.Base. The Art.Base, n.d. Web. 29 May 2017. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>

8. Pogue, David. "Making Stuff." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 29 May 2017. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html#making-stuff-smaller>

9. Nguyen, Nicole. "The Evolution Of The Cell Phone-How Far It's Come!" ReadWrite. ReadWrite, 04 July 2014. Web. 29 May 2017. <http://readwrite.com/2014/07/04/cell-phone-evolution-popsugar/>

Neuroscience and Art

The topic of this week, Neuroscience and Art, is interesting because it is a new page for me to realize more about the relationship of consciousness and art. I am not surprised that the human brain is composed of twenty-seven separate organs, and they localize in specific regions of the brain. Therefore, as stated, any of human behavior is dependent. This proves that some parts of the brain can be bigger while you are expert at handling some particular subjects, such as math, sport, or literature, because those particular parts are used more than the others. Yet, I am surprised about the saying of metaphor from a great artist and scientist, Santiago Romon y Cajal, he said “neurons are as mysterious butterflies of the soul," which is referred in one of the video of the lectures.

Wings of these butterflies, the dendrites were traditionally considered as passive integrator of synaptic information (Cajal). Indeed, the picture is so beautiful and I have never thought that way- our perception can be shaped to be a different butterfly. The way, in which we can see effectively that how neuroscience can be twisted together with art, is the pictures of scan- FMRI butterfly (2008), which were created by the artist, Suzanne Anker. This scanning work represented the idea that how modern brain science has penetrated popular culture. She explained this works as “a way to picture a thought…”

It is kind of a cultural equivalent that art creates metaphors which make science more transparent for the non-scientists. When art meet neuroscience, it is amazing that something invisible, such as our consciousness, can be visualized to see how neural networks enable us to think, act, and love. By drawing the beautiful pictures of neurons in which the neuroscientists observed under the microscope, such the artworks would facilitate the understanding of neuronal theory, which has been stated by Cajal that “the connection between neurons is contiguous rather than continuous.” Thus, there is a saying from him, “There can be no doubt, only artists are attracted to science” because art and science exist side by side and play a part together.

Neuroscience not only links with paper artworks but also can be the creatures of fine jewelry or silver sculptures. For example, Luke Maninov Hammond, a contemporary jeweler and neuroscience imaging specialist, contributes jewelrys and sculptures that inspired by neuroscience. And he is uniquely positioned as a scientist-artist who has expertise in neuroimaging. Isn’t it incredible that we can apply neuroscience as an intellectual ready-made to understand art, and explore more about human nature!

References:

Anker, Suzanne. "Bio Art." Suzanne Anker. Suzanneanker.com, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://suzanneanker.com/>

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10.11 (2009): 815-21. Web.

Hammond, Luck Maninov. "Images by Lukemaninov." Luke Maninov Hammond (@lukemaninov) | Instagram Photos and Videos. Pictaram, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017.

<http://www.pictaram.com/user/lukemaninov/175197758/1318032228731372472_175197758>

Noë, Alva. "Art and the Limits of Neuroscience." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 May 2017.

<https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/art-and-the-limits-of-neuroscience/?_r=0>

Regine. "BRAINWAVE: Common Senses." We Make Money Not Art. We-make-money-not-art.com, 26 Mar. 2008. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://we-make-money-not-art.com/brainwave_common_senses/>

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2017.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI>

Vesna, Victoria. "Mind Intro." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 May 2017.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF0Qt7L2-kM>

Bio-Tech and Art

While having an open-minded understanding of the connection which includes the subjects of medicine, technology and art, it is not hard to imagine that art could be linked and combined with biology. However, in fact, as being completely new in the field of biology, it has been kind of hard to process everything which has been said in Ellen’s essay, “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classification.” Yet, the article still gave me something new about the differences between copyright and patent protection and how it applies in the arts, as well as the ethical issue which has been raised in this subject.

Personally speaking, as for being more creative on art work, it is the thing that people should think twice that how valid it is for artists to “challenge conventional classifications of life.” In this subject, bio-tech and art, has sometimes been giving the effort to be provocative that stands on the edge between morally correct or incorrect. According to Ellen’s article, the author mentions a clear example of such this kind of artworks that were created by Eduardo Kac. In some ways, Kac’s art can be very controversial and hard to understand for many of us because his ideas and contributions blur the line in our recognition of classical taxonomy with computational programming and bioengineering.

A-positive, credit by Eduardo Kac

The work, “A-positive,” which was done by 1997, examined and explored the delicate relationship between the human body and emerging new breeds of hybrid machines machines that incorporate biological elements and from these elements extract sensorial or metabolic function (Kac 1997). That is, a human being could have a direct physical contact with a robot in terms of  the two emerging forms of human and machine interface penetrate the boundaries of the flesh. As to be a new category- hybrid biological robot, it has been ascribed as “biobots.” This event reflects on the condition of the human body in the new context in which biology meets computer science and robotics. As well, this is the beginning of the concept of “bio-art.”

GFP Bunny, credit by Eduardo Kac

Controversially, a transgenic art work- GFP Bunny, named Alba, has been created. Yet, the implication and relevance to issues of today’s society of this work are discussed because the project is a complex social event that starts with the creation of a chemical animal which never existed in nature. However, it is an eye-opening subject. For me,  “Bio-art” is a subject which is swarming with nonsense and sense. This new subject will be leading us to the world of “Defining Life” and thinking differently in art and science. Ultimately, human creativity has no limit and beyond infinity.

References:

"Bio-Art, Ethics and Engagement." Waag Society. Waag Society, 09 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://waag.org/en/news/bio-art-ethics-and-engagement>

Kac, Eduardo. "ART AT THE BIOBOTIC FRONTIER." Ekac. Ekac.org, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.ekac.org/apositive.html>

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." Ekac. Ekac.org, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017.<http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>

Kac, Eduardo. "Art at the Biologic Frontier," in: Roy Ascott, ed., Reframing Consciousness (Exeter: Intellect, 1999), pp. 90-94. 14 May 2017.

Levy, Ellen K.. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” DESMA 9. Web. 14 May 2017.

Slawson, Kim. "Eduardo Kac's GFP Bunny, a Work of Transgenic Art, Or, It's Not Easy Being Green." Eduardo Kac's GFP Bunny, a Work of Transgenic Art, Or, It's Not Easy Being Green. Kac Web, n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.ekac.org/slawson%203.html>

Vesna, Victoria, narr. “BioTech Art Lectures I-V.” N.p., . web. 14 May 2017.

Chemical Entanglements - Gender & Exposure

The event I attended on Thursday, May 4th, was “Chemical Entanglements - Gender & Exposure.” This talk was based on the discussion of the gendered impacts of chemicals on human populations, and the lecturer, Florence Williams, she particularly pointed out the issue on toxic chemical effect of the association with women. For example, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Surprisingly, according to the data which shows the information about world cancer statistic for both sexes, breast cancer was the second most common cancer.  Indeed, the samples of this statistical result were only collected and counted with women (male excluded). Therefore, it is the topic that really worth to considerate and do the research of the consequence that has been caused by environmental toxins. In addition, it should be a concern that the effects of environmental toxins make the different impacts on different genders, especially the dangers for women.

Photo with a beautiful stuff of the event

Why we have to pay attention to this topic, which is not only focusing on the relationship of chemicals and public health but also keeping an eye on gender. Because it is so true that Florence said “humans are the only animal with breasts, and human’s breasts are very unique.” Indeed, breastfeeding is a praiseworthy behavior and the credit must go to all mothers. Only female can do this which is cherishable- breastfeeding. However, in the meantime, women are under the suffering of the environmental impacts on their health from the way of social norm. The point was revealed by Rachel C. Lee, a director of UCLA Center for the Study of Women, she said “ through feminized roles, women have been disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals that have been explicitly marketed to women and structured around the reinforcement of gender and racialized beauty norms.”

Yes, women have been getting a lot of exposure to chemicals in cosmetics for the reason of looking prettier or adorable, which is the code of beauty norm in society. For example, skinny, blonde, or busty are kinds of the standards of beauty. For achieving this kind of beauty, women probably go through dying hair, making lots of makeup, or even doing plastic surgery. All the way that women go through are involving some chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, which are harmful. Social and cultural practice can disproportionally expose women to petrochemicals, such as phthalates(Oertelt-Prigione, 2012). Yet, phthalates have been the widely used in consumer products. We cannot deny that the chemicals in cosmetics make us look, feel and smell better. However, the research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of these chemicals may contribute to the development of cancer in people.

In fact, these chemicals which women use daily, such as nail polish and hair-spray, are considered hormone disruptors. According to the science study, hormone disruptors can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body’s hormonal balance. And it should be noticed that the development and growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer would be made by the changing of estrogen.

myself during the event

In short, regarding to the view that has been proposed by Harvard School of Public Health, people in the U.S. are exposed to more than one hundred chemicals daily from the use of personal care products (Roeder 2014, n.p.). Those chemicals are present in our blood and urine. Such the study shows that “it has been linked to rising rates in breast cancer, asthma, autism, reproductive problems, and other health issues” (Roeder 2014, n.p.). Thus, what we should do is reducing everyday exposure to toxic chemicals in personal care products. It is the way to improve women’s health and give the better way of breastfeeding without any of worries.

Reference:

Arriola, Isa. "REDUCING EVERYDAY EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS CAN IMPROVE WOMEN’S HEALTH." CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/Policy-Brief-23-Arriola.pdf>

"Exposure to Chemicals in Cosmetics." Breastcancer.org. Breastcancer.org, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/cosmetics>

Jordan. "Beauty Ideals Around The World." Google Sites. Google.com, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://sites.google.com/a/uw.edu/sociology-165-jordan-winters/home/beauty-ideals-around-the-world>

Kelley, Melissa. "LIMITING EXPOSURE TO PHTHALATES IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS." CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. CSW.UCLA.EDU/CE. (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/Policy-Brief-22-Kelley.pdf>

"Personal Care Products." Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (Formerly Breast Cancer Fund), n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://www.bcpp.org/our-work/personal-care-products/>

"Policy Briefs." Center for the Study of Women. UCLA, n.d. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://csw.ucla.edu/publications/policy-briefs/>

Roeder, A. " Harmful, untested chemicals rife in personal care products." Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health News, 13 Feb 2014. Web. 12 May 2017. <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/harmful-chemicals-in-person-al-care-products/>