Event 3: The Getty Center

THE GETTY: CENTRAL GARDENS

I used to think of the Getty Center as some boring art museum that showcased a bunch of paintings and sculptures just like any other museum. However, after visiting the Getty, my opinions have changed, as the museum itself is much more than a bunch of paintings and sculptures. It is almost hard not to appreciate the beauty it contains. Upon my arrival, my expectations were low as when I walked in, I strolled around mocking some of the weird pieces of art on the walls.

I wasn't thoroughly impressed until I walked through the building, to outside section of the museum. What caught my eye most was The Central Garden. Constructed by Robert Irwin in 1997, Garden is a 134,000 square foot design that showcases a large variety of plant life. It also includes a pond like water area and several grouped plant mazes. These mazes are what I found to be the most breathtaking, as they are finely cut in pristine form, and to my surprise, with an aerial view, the hedges spell out the letters “G” and “C”. The hidden details like the formation of the letters in the hedges are what bring such beauty towards objects like plants that we may take for granted in everyday life.

The Central Gardens allow visitors to experience an interaction of art and nature. Museum visitors are encouraged to roam through the gardens in order to experience how nature can also be viewed as art in a first hand experience. We see nature all around us, each and every day, but sometime we as human beings do not stop and appreciate the beauty of nature and how it can be viewed as art. The Central Gardens are set up in such a way that it is impossible not to witness the relationship between nature and art. From the finely shaped hedge mazes to the beautiful central pond, I highly recommend a trip to the Getty Center.

EVENT 2: FOWLER MUSEUM

FOWLER MUSEUM: MAKING STRANGE

On campus here at UCLA, the Fowler Museum has an exhibit called Making Strange by Vivian Sundaram, which combines a pair of distinct bodies of work that showcases twenty-seven sculptural outfits that are made solely from recycled material and medical supplies. These fully wearable garments are presented on mannequins and wooden props in order to promote fashion and couture on a unique stage.

One goal of the exhibit is to show the tension between life and death. The use of recyclable materials symbolizes the circle of life, as materials are reused after their expectancy in order to be reborn into a new masterpiece. This example below titled “Pink Spider,” is made exclusively from paper cups and glass-nylon tubing, to create a dress. These paper cups and glass-nylon tubing have been recycled to be made into a beautiful new piece of art, after they had been used for other purposes. This piece aims to show that there can be life after death.

Another symbolic goal of the exhibit is to show the connection of beauty and illness. The picture below models an outfit composed of fluid bags and IV tubing from a hospital. Hospitals are often viewed as a place of illness, but these materials are transformed into a beautiful outfit that disproves that illness is without beauty.

My trip to the Fowler Museum allowed me to have a deeper perspective on how art and medicine can be connected. I tended to think that the two could not have any relevant connection. However, after seeing how recyclable items and medical supplies could be fused together to create such astounding art, it has really opened my eyes to how there can be beauty in serious topics like death and illness.

WEEK 9: SPACE & ART

SPACE AND ART

Space is often referred to as the final frontier. Although we have ventured out into space and documented our travels with pictures and diagrams, it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of space. In the “Powers of Ten” video from this week’s materials, we can see a mathematical approach on how to scale our universe as a factor of ten. The video maps out our universe by focusing in on a small spot on earth and then expanding out by ten meters. From the small spot on earth, to the entire universe, and then focusing back in on the small spot, mathematics helps us survey space in a way that is comprehendible through the factor of ten.

As I said before, many photographs of space have been taken, and these pieces of art are truly wonderful. We have all sorts of pictures from space, taken by satellites, space crafts, and even men on the moon. Saying it simply, art captures beauty. Art can transform our perception of objects into something completely different.

One photograph in particular, the Pale Blue Dot, speaks volumes artistically. In relation to the “Powers of Ten” video, the Pale Blue Dot shows earth far off in the distance that appears to be just a tiny blue circle. Common knowledge tells us that Earth is a massive object, but the artistic use of a vantage point shows us that earth is far off in the distance, appearing to be just a blue spec. The apparent depth of this picture depicts the vast nature of space.

WORKS CITED:

Fulmer, Kyle. "Space and Art." - NASA Watch. NASA, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

"Powers of ten." Youtube. Eames Office, 26 Aug 2010. Web. 29 May 2015. 

Sagan, Carl. "Pale Blue Dot." Youtube. CarlSaganPortal, 24 Mar 2009. Web. 29 May 2015.

Vensa, Victoria. "Space Exploration Plus Art." Youtube. Uconlineprogram, 29 Jul 2013. Web. 29 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. DESMA 9. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Week 8: Nanotech & Art

Nanotechnology and Art

For close to twenty years now, cardiologists have been working to be able to identify blot clots before they cause heart attacks. Gregory Lanza, a Washington University cardiologist, has turned to nanotechnology, in order to allow doctors to be able to make clots visible to a new kind of X-ray technology. These nanoparticles eliminate the guesswork of determining whether or not someone experiencing chest pains is having a heart attack or not. The nanotechnology has the ability to reveal the location of a blood clot in a matter of hours. Nanoparticles are injected into the area of the pain and are able to be identified in color by X-ray, which without the nanoparticles being injected would only see black and white.

Much like the nanotechnology in the identification of blood clots, art is capable of indentifying the unknown as well. What if I told you a human bone could be made into audio speakers? Over the past three years, an artist named Boo Chapple has been developing a way to make this possible. Chapple focuses on nanovibration of the bone in order to generate sound. The purpose of the “Transjuicer” is to investigate phenomena taking place beyond what we as humans have the ability to sense, and intensify it so they can be experienced by the human senses. Boo Chapple is using his art to give people a way to sense and connect with matter that is small and abstract. 

I think nanotechnology is a fantastic way for humanity to expand further into the world of art and science because it lets us delve deeper into unknown areas. It gives us a chance to see things we may not pick up on such as identification of blood clots, and hear things that may not have been considered possible such as bone being made into a speaker. Although nanotechnology is used mostly to describe something miniscule in size, the technology allows for the massive developments in science, art, and everyday life.

WORKS CITED:

Cavalle, Josep S. New Nanoparticles Make Blood Clots Visible. Washington University, 7 Feb. 2011. Web. 22 May 2015.

Gimzewski, Jim. “Nanotechnology and Art: Part 4”. Lecture. n.d. Web. 18 May 2015.

Henderson, Nathan. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Art.base. John Curtin Gallery, n.d. Web. 23 May 2015.

Lovgren, Stefan. “Can Art Make Nanotechnology Easier to Understand?” National Geographic. 23 December 2003. Web

Vesna, Victoria and Gimzewski, Jim. “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of a new science.”

Week 7 Neuroscience & Art

NEUROSCIENCE AND ART

In today’s world, the medical field is constantly growing with new developments. One area in particular that has made vast developments, is neuroscience. Neuroscience gives us an understanding of the human nervous system and the brain, one of the most interesting yet vague organs of the body. The brain is responsible for the conscious actions preformed by organisms, but is also responsible for involuntary unconscious actions.

Art is a good example to describe the brain. We can consciously paint a picture, or we can unconsciously take in the colors we see in painting as we walk by it. The mind is what gives us the ability to create a piece of art, but it also gives us the ability to perceive it as well. The mind allows us to assign meaning to the artwork we see, but at the same time it stimulates the brain in the forms of imprinting, advertising, therapy.

 

The relationship between our brain and art is fascinating to say the least. The brain allows us to comprehend art, but art can affect our brain unlike any other substance or object. To simply put it, you cannot have art without the brain, but what would the brain be without art?

WORKS CITED

Bateson, Gregory. "MIND AND NATURE by Gregory Bateson." MIND AND NATURE by Gregory Bateson. M.C. Bateson, 5 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 May 2015.

Ginter, John. "The Neuroscience of Creativity." Comic Art, Creativity and the Law (2014): 7-11. Neuroscience of Art. Stanford University, 23 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015.

Hymans, John. "Art and Neruroscience." The Quarterly Review of Biology 87.1 (2012): n.pag. Web. 17 May 2015.

Jackson, Candace. "How Art Affects the Brain." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 22 2010. Web. 17 Nov 2012.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience-pt1." DESMA 9. University of California. Los Angeles. 9 Apr. 2012. Lecture. 11 May. 2015.

Event 1: Hammer Museum

THE HAMMER MUSEUM: PROVOCATIONS

The Hammer Museum here in Los Angeles is home to beautiful and unique artwork that can be seen free of admission. Being a student in DESMA 9, the Hammer Museum is a wonderful place to examine real-life art that is relevant to the topics we have discussed in class. One exhibit in particular, “Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studios” displays fascinating hi-tech architecture and design, that really relates to what we have been studying in class.

(Entrance to the Provocations exhibit)

The “Provocations” exhibit displays a wonderful assortment of new age architecture and design. The exhibit is perfectly relevant to what we learn in DESMA9 because the pieces on display are perfect examples of art that comes from the precision of science and technology. There was a wide variety of art on display, from models, paintings, photographs, to conceptual drawings, all from the work of Heatherwick Studios. The amazing part about the art on display is that not only are the pieces beautiful, but the ideas and concepts are actually functional, which emphasizes that art and technology can be fused together to create masterpieces.

(An example of a structure built by Heatherwick Studios)

Visiting the "Provocations" display allowed me to grasp the concepts and ideas presented in DESMA 9. The experience of physically seeing examples of art and technology mixed together to create structures with such beauty and functionality is truly amazing. It was difficult to comprehend that some of these structures were in fact real, and not just conceptual. For me, especially living in Los Angeles, I am used to seeing tall skyscrapers and living in somewhat of a concrete jungle, but the "Provocations" exhibit allowed me to appreciate the beauty and elegance that architecture can portray. My trip to the Hammer Museum to witness the work of Heatherwick Studios enabled me to realize the ability for art and new age technology to be mixed together to create wonders.

(Myself enjoying the hammer museum display)

BIOTECH & ART

BIOTECH & ART

Life is full of imperfection. So many aspects of the world are flawed, but that allows for creativity. Life as we know it can be used as a canvas for us humans to create masterpieces the way we feel fit. Biotechnology, the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, is one of the major ways human beings can alter flaws or imperfections. 

Stem cell reproduction is a product of  biotechnology and is continuing to grow here in the United States. Stem cell reproduction basically can be described as using embryonic cells of an organism to grow new cells. An example of stem cell reproduction is how scientists can help treat burn victims by using stem cells to recreate a biologically engineered skin.

The reason I bring up the example of the burn victim is because not only is it a massive biotechnical advancement to be able to create skin from embryonic cells, but it is also an art form. To be able to give the human body a new "canvas," so to speak, Is simply amazing. The human body can be pierced and tattooed in order to give mean or become visually appealing, and for scientists to be able to biologically create new skin for people in dyer need, presents a new opportunity.

WORKS CITED

Gallego, Alexander. "What Is Biotechnology?" What Is Biotechnology?Biotech Industry, Apr. 2004. Web. 11 May 2015.

Linganos, Gabriella. "Stem Cells Could Create New Skin to Help Burns Victims." - Stemaid™ : Embryonic Stem-cells. Stem Aid, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 May 2015.

Serven, James. "'Tattoo-Fairy' Gives Hope To Burn Victims [VIDEO]." Medical Daily. =, 16 Jan. 2015. Web. 11 May 2015.

Tagman, Stephanie. "What Is Bioengineering?" UC Berkeley Department of Bioengineering. California Berkley, 2 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 May 2015.

Williamson, Scott. "Stem Cell Uses." Stem Cell Basics: Introduction [Stem Cell Information]. National Institute of Health, 21 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 May 2015.