Week 8| Nanotech + Art

Nanotechnology itself is a novel area of study, and there has been a huge expansion in what scientists are now able to discover. We can now observe the very small parts of natural structures, and learn more about the way that they function. Scientists can now get a better understanding of the complexity of the structures that they analyze on daily basis. This new perspective on what was once understood is partially produced in images taken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).




This new technology has produced images that greatly inspire art. The different patterns, colors, and textures captured in these images has inspired many artists to try to either replicate them, or create an

Natural killer (NK) cell immune synapse,
3D-SIM Dieckermann and Lawrence,
Cambridge University

interpretation for their audiences. There are some scientists who take an interest in capturing interesting shots of the nano-world. Presenting nanotechnology in this way allows the audience to view science in a different way. It is almost like normal people are given a different, but similar perspective as scientists that allows them both to have the same level of appreciation for the complexity of these structures.




Artists create not only images, but also tangible structures to create a tangible aspect to the science itself. Nanoart is abstract in this sense, it creates

Photo: Cris Orfesco

something that someone can hold in their hands and observes up close. It creates a larger view of a small portion of reality.

References:

NanoArt 21, nanoart21.org/.

24, Россия. “NanoArt - Искусство, Созданное Наукой.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX4xiGITj1o.

Andrew, Elise. “The Best Medical Images Of The Year: A Mesmerising Nano-World Where Science Becomes Art.” IFLScience, IFLScience, 11 Mar. 2019, www.iflscience.com/technology/best-medical-images-year-mesmerising-nano-world-where-science-becomes-art/.

Feder, Barnaby J. “The Art of Nanotech.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Jan. 2008, bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/.

Vesna, Victoria, and Jim Gimzewski. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science. vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm.

Event #2: body / site / seen

I attended the body/site/seen event, which was a dance performance in which the performers had cameras attached to different parts of their bodies. At first, I did not know what exactly to expect because the dance was slow to begin, and all of their cameras were covered. They slowly started to uncover their cameras, and their point of view was projected onto the wall behind them for each

dancer. They began to move closer together, and the audience could see a unique point of view of the performance.

As the dancers moved closer together, it was hard to tell who’s camera as projecting the image because it seemed like you could see all angles and all of the performers at all times. One dancer had a camera attached to their hand, another to their arm, and another to their leg. You pretty much got a 360 degree view from the outside and the inside of the performance. 

Technology in this scenario gave the audience a more intimate point of view as compared to just observing from the outside. As the 

dancers moved closer together and it was hard to tell who’s camera was whose, we were able to see the way in which they interacted with each other in order to create an elaborate performance. The different camera angles showed how the dancer’s bodies moved throughout the space, and each point of view pieced together the larger message of the performance. 

After watching this performance, I was able to better understand the ways in which we can use technology to give an unique perspective on art. They can work hand in hand to create points of view not able to be seen by just observing. I would recommend this event because it gave an inside and outside perspective on a dance performance, and puts emphasis on the ways art works in a space.

Week 7 Neurosci + Art

Week 7- Human Consciousness 

Technology has allowed scientists to produce dozens of new discoveries in the past 10 years, and novel ones to appear on the scene as well. Neuroscience is a relatively new field, in the sense that new technology in recent times has allowed scientists and researchers to learn more about how our brains work. However, there always is something new to discover about the human brain. For centuries, it’s purpose and the way we use it has been debated and reevaluated several times. The understanding of the brain has come slowly, and there is still one thing that people do not really understand, which is human consciousness.

The idea of consciousness seems very abstract, and something everyone takes for granted everyday. Roger Penrose, a physicist, describes human consciousness as “non-computational.” He

How Quantum computer
functioning  would work in relation
to brain function.

goes on to explain what quantum and classical physics are, and that the brain functions at a place that bridges between the two; which is something scientists do not understand yet. I think what makes studying the brain interesting is that a lot of the functions, as Penrose explains, cannot be fully understood with science. There is still a grey area that cannot be explained by a single cell or process. However, even in Penrose’s article, he is criticized by famous scientists and scholars, who claim that they do not understand or agree with his stance on consciousness being comparable to quantum physics. However, I believe this demonstrates that no one truly understands every part of the human consciousness, and many things that we do know come from experience rather than science.

A neuroaesthetic exhibition created by Google in Milan

By leaning away from science, and more towards experience to understand the human brain, artists have developed “neuroaesthetics” to understand more about human consciousness. The human brain interprets art, a visual, in complex ways that may evoke emotion, physical feelings, or bring up memories. By creating art that triggers people in this way, this may pave the way for a new perspective on brain function in its relation to consciousness.

Sources:

The Third Culture - Chapter 14, www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html.

Hitti, Natashah, and Natashah Hitti. “Google Offers ‘Scientific Proof That Design Is Important’ with A Space for Being.” Dezeen, Dezeen, 18 Apr. 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/04/10/google-milan-design-week-a-space-for-being-installation-neuroaesthetic-design/.

Landau, Elizabeth. “What the Brain Draws from: Art and Neuroscience.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html.

Noë, Alva. “Moving Toward Understanding Consciousness.” NPR, NPR, 5 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/03/05/518653667/moving-towards-understanding-consciousness.

Ouellette, Jennifer, and Quanta Magazine. “A New Spin on the Quantum Brain.” Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2016, www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-spin-on-the-quantum-brain-20161102/.

Think, Big. “How Human Consciousness Evolved | Daniel Dennett.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Ax2BqZo3Y.

The Third Culture - Chapter 14, www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html.

Hitti, Natashah, and Natashah Hitti. “Google Offers ‘Scientific Proof That Design Is Important’ with A Space for Being.” Dezeen, Dezeen, 18 Apr. 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/04/10/google-milan-design-week-a-space-for-being-installation-neuroaesthetic-design/.

Landau, Elizabeth. “What the Brain Draws from: Art and Neuroscience.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html.

Noë, Alva. “Moving Toward Understanding Consciousness.” NPR, NPR, 5 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/03/05/518653667/moving-towards-understanding-consciousness.

Ouellette, Jennifer, and Quanta Magazine. “A New Spin on the Quantum Brain.” Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2016, www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-spin-on-the-quantum-brain-20161102/.

Think, Big. “How Human Consciousness Evolved | Daniel Dennett.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Ax2BqZo3Y.

The Third Culture - Chapter 14, www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html.

Hitti, Natashah, and Natashah Hitti. “Google Offers ‘Scientific Proof That Design Is Important’ with A Space for Being.” Dezeen, Dezeen, 18 Apr. 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/04/10/google-milan-design-week-a-space-for-being-installation-neuroaesthetic-design/.

Landau, Elizabeth. “What the Brain Draws from: Art and Neuroscience.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html.

Noë, Alva. “Moving Toward Understanding Consciousness.” NPR, NPR, 5 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/03/05/518653667/moving-towards-understanding-consciousness.

Ouellette, Jennifer, and Quanta Magazine. “A New Spin on the Quantum Brain.” Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2016, www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-spin-on-the-quantum-brain-20161102/.

Think, Big. “How Human Consciousness Evolved | Daniel Dennett.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Ax2BqZo3Y.

The Third Culture - Chapter 14, www.edge.org/documents/ThirdCulture/v-Ch.14.html.

Hitti, Natashah, and Natashah Hitti. “Google Offers ‘Scientific Proof That Design Is Important’ with A Space for Being.” Dezeen, Dezeen, 18 Apr. 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/04/10/google-milan-design-week-a-space-for-being-installation-neuroaesthetic-design/.

Landau, Elizabeth. “What the Brain Draws from: Art and Neuroscience.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/health/art-brain-mind/index.html.

Noë, Alva. “Moving Toward Understanding Consciousness.” NPR, NPR, 5 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/03/05/518653667/moving-towards-understanding-consciousness.

Ouellette, Jennifer, and Quanta Magazine. “A New Spin on the Quantum Brain.” Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2016, www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-spin-on-the-quantum-brain-20161102/.

Think, Big. “How Human Consciousness Evolved | Daniel Dennett.” YouTube, YouTube, 12 Feb. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Ax2BqZo3Y.