Event 5 (Extra Credit): Dinosaur Hall at the National History Museum

For this event, I went to the Dinosaur Hall exhibit at the National History Museum. Generally, we don't think of the display of fossils as being related to art, but while at the exhibit, I saw how closely the fields of paleontology, medical technology, mathematics, and art are intertwined. Concepts taken from each of these fields are utilized to create the life-like fossil sculptures we commonly see at museums.

Typically, when we think of paleontologists finding fossils, we imagine them using pick-axes, meticulously uncovering fossils piece-by-piece. Though this image is correct for most paleontologists, new technologies such as enhanced X-ray imaging (medical technology), 3D printing, and electron microscopy (nanotechnology) are being used to re-create fossils as never before. With this technology, paleontologists are able to accurately re-create how ancient animals, such as dinosaurs, moved, ate, and behaved.

Additionally, applying mathematics to fossils helps scientists understand such as things as an animal's total wing span and leg length, all measurements that are necessary to accurately reconstruct a fossil.

  

Where does the "art" aspect come in? Well, in order for scientists to re-create fossils and present them to the public, they have to have an artistic eye. All the dinosaur fossils I saw were, essentially, sculptures. Just as an artist would take into account such things as proportion, perspective, shape, and form when creating a sculptural piece, so too did the people who had to put together these fossils for the public. Furthermore, fossils were typically accompanied with artists' depictions of what the animal looked like (picture below shows this). I actually learned from a series of paintings that prior to computerized images and X-Ray technology, artists and painters were responsible for depicting what they believed fossilized animals to look like.

A painting by the artist Charles Knight depicting what he believed an herbivorous dinosaur looked like prior to computerized technology

Me at the exhibit

Here again, in somewhere where I didn't expect to see art intertwined with science, I saw life-like fossils being recreated through a collaboration between artists and scientists.

Link to the event: http://www.nhm.org/site/explore-exhibits/permanent-exhibits/dinosaur-hall

                         

References:

Safford, Matt. "How New Tech for Ancient Fossils Could Change The Way We Understand Animals." Smithsonian. Web. 02 June 2016.  

"Using Mathematics in Fossil Reconstruction." Using Mathematics in Fossil Reconstruction. Web. 02 June 2016. <http://www.sedl.org/scimath/compass/v03n01/usingmath.html>

 "Art and Science of Fleshed-out Fossils." John Hawks Weblog. Web. 03 June 2016.

"What Does the Fossil Record Show?" BioLogos. Web. 03 June 2016.

"The Art of Natural History: Fossil Art!" Idaho Museum of Natural History. 2015. Web. 03 June 2016. 

.          
        

Event 4 (Extra Credit): Senses of Time: Video and Film Based Works of Africa at the LACMA

For this event, I attended the 'Senses of Time: Video and Film Based Works of Africa' exhibit at the LACMA museum. I have never really seen video/film utilized as an art form in a museum exhibit before, so it was really interesting to see how artwork translates to the viewer in this medium. Though I saw works that were really breathtaking, my favorite and by far the one that related most to this course was the work titled "Brave New World II" by the artist Theo Eshetu.

Me taking  a picture of myself looking into Eshetu's piece

Eshetu's Piece

The piece, named after Aldous Huxley's novel, is in Eshetu's own words "a film-based work that questions relationships between ritual and technological time through a compelling kaleidoscopic illusion, which blurs past, present, and future." Eshetu built the piece by surrounding a television with a pyramid of mirrors, their reflections creating a perfect globe.

Eshetu's piece is very closely related to our lecture on Mathematics and Art. In order to create his piece, which successfully creates an infinite like illusion, Eshetu had to know how to purposefully situate his 4 mirrors to create the illusion of a perfect globe. Specifically, his piece utilizes the mathematical concepts of fractals (defined as a curve or geometric figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole), whose presence is explained by the Golden Ratio (Fibonacci sequence) we learned about early on in the quarter.

Fractals in nature, like the one Eshetu created
<http://www.advancedskinwisdom.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/golden-ratio-in-nature.jpg>

 Eshetu's piece was one that expertly linked the fields of mathematics, physics, optics, and art. By embracing the Golden Ratio, he has created a man-made fractalized piece that draws the viewer in (mathematics) while simultaneously blurring the distinction between past, present, and future (physics).                                                  

Me with my ticket at the LACMA

The following is a link to the exhibit: http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/senses-time-video-and-film-based-works-africa

References:

 

McNally, Jess. "Earth’s Most Stunning Natural Fractal Patterns." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital. Web. 02 June 2016. 

 "Theo Eshetu." Dutch Art Institute. Web. 02 June 2016.

"Theo Eshetu | The Mirror Ball Constellation No.3 (2013-2015) | Available for Sale | Artsy." Theo Eshetu | The Mirror Ball Constellation No.3 (2013-2015) | Available for Sale | Artsy. Web. 02 June 2016.

"SEATTLE FRACTALS DIGITAL ART." What Are Fractals? Web. 02 June 2016. <http://fractalarts.com/SFDA/whatarefractals.html>.

"Fractals | World of Mathematics." World of Mathematics. Web. 03 June 2016. 

Week 9: Space and Art

Studying the history of space technology this week proved to me how powerful an influence world politics has on many aspects of our society. Were it not for the Cold War, the space technology developed in the United States in the period after World War II arguably would have taken years and years longer to take shape. Because of the arms race between the Soviet Union and United States, the world experienced a rapid increase in the type of technology that up until that point had been the stuff of science fiction and fantasy.

Graphic showing the mentality of the 'arms race'
<http://embed.gyazo.com/1e1422c8f888783519336c1c6e86dedd.png>

What was most interesting for me was to study how science fiction was able to influence and inspire scientists. Technology such as the space elevator or the zero gravity battle room in the novel 'Ender's Game' push scientists to expand the boundaries of what space technology can be. This interplay between writers, whose basic understanding of science enables them to be creative and ignore the 'impossible, and scientists has resulted in technology that previously would have been considered impossible.

Space Elevator
<http://images.spaceref.com/news/2015/space_elevator_2015_hungary_945.jpg>

Zero Gravity Battle Room from 'Ender's Game'
<https://static01.nyt.com/packages/images/movies/ENDERS_GRAPHIC.jpg>

While space-related science fiction has inspired scientists, the same is true of scientists inspiring artists. With the development of space technology such as satellites and telescopes, the human race for the first time was able to see images of life away from Earth. These astounding images of galaxies far far away, of suns and exploding stars, have influenced generations of artists. One such artist is Mark A. Garlick, a self-proclaimed amateur astronomer, illustrator, and designer. His website includes beautiful pieces he created for science agencies and space lovers.

Garlick's website link: http://www.space-art.co.uk/slideshow.html

This week's subject may have been one of the only where I saw inspiration being drawn equally: from scientists to artists and from artists to scientists.

References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Space and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 20 May 2016. Web. 23 May 2016.

 "Building the Battle Room for ‘Ender’s Game’." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 May 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/10/17/movies/enders-feature.html?_r=0>.

Boucher, Marc. "Space Elevator Reference Top Story." Space Elevator. SpaceRef, 22 June 2015. Web. 24 May 2016.

History.com Staff. "Arms Race." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 June 2009. Web. 24 May 2016.

Mohammadi, Goli. "Space Craft: 21 Works of Art Inspired by the Cosmos | Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers." Make DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers. 09 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 May 2016. 

Event 3: Leap Before You Look at the Hammer Museum

For my third event, I attended the 'Leap Before You Look' exhibit at the Hammer Museum.

This exhibit looks at artwork created at Black Mountain College, a small experimental liberal arts college that was open from 1933-1957. The College emphasized inquiry, discussion, and experimentation, and in about 20 years produced artwork that was thought provoking and unique.

The works that caught my eye were made by R. Buckminster Fuller, a professor interested in experimental architecture. Architecture, in my mind, has been the epitome of art and science merging in the real world: an architect must apply mathematical and physical laws to create their imagined structures.

The sketch on the left is Fuller's geodesic dome. By combining mathematics and art, he sought to create a structure that encompasses the greatest volume of space while having the smallest surface area. By combining circles in specific pattern. Fuller was able to theoretically create a structure that was cost-effective and original.

Another artist who was at Black Mountain at the same time and inspired by Fuller's work was Richard Lippold, whose 'Sketch for The Sun' is shown to the right. Lippold, like Fuller, sought to combine physical, mathematical, and artistic concepts to create a sun sculpture that radiated and shimmered of its own accord.









Though not all the art in the exhibit was my cup of tea, I found these works to be fascinating. These artists had groundbreaking visions, and even though they may have been outlandish and impossible to create in the real world, their melding of physics, mathematics, and art created inspiration for a horde of artists to come.

Link to Event:

https://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2016/leap-before-you-look-black-mountain-college-1933-1957/#sthash.ja0UQc0u.dpuf

References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 10 Apr 2016. Web. 18 May 2016.

 "In-Gallery Performances." The Hammer Museum. Web. 18 May 2016. <https://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2016/leap-before-you-look-black-mountain-college-1933-1957/>.

 "R. Buckminster Fuller." Bfi.org. Buckminster Fuller Institute. Web. 17 May 2016. <https://bfi.org/about-fuller/biography>.

 

 "Black Mountain College Museum ." Black Mountain College Museum Arts Center. Web. 18 May 2016.

"The Legacy of Black Mountain College-An Experiment in Higher Education: Interview with Ruth Erickson by David Ebony." Yale RTbooks. 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 18 May 2016. 

Event 2: Contemporary Art of the Middle East at LACMA

Me outside the LACMA

For my second event, I attended the 'Contemporary Art of the Middle East' exhibit at LACMA. This exhibition was very personal to me because many of the works are from Iran. As an Iranian-American, I found myself relating to the works as they gave me insight into the changing cultural and artistic landscape in Iran.








I was pleasantly surprised to find works that played off of themes we have learned in the lecture portion of this class; specifically, many of the works illustrated an interplay between MedTech + Art, and Mathematics and Art.

Ahmed Mater, Saudi Arabia
"Illumination Diptych (Ottoman Waqf)"

This was the first piece I encountered in the Islamic Art exhibit. I was shocked to see an X-Ray image of a skeleton surrounded by Arabic text and traditional Middle Eastern designs. After looking up the artist, I found that he is a medical doctor and an artist who commonly uses medical instruments to explore contemporary Saudi Arabian sociopolitical life. It was interesting to see a topic we had talked about during lecture, namely how X-Ray images are being used by artists, manifest itself in an artist/doctor from across the world.

Iman Safei, Iran
"Sepeleshk"

Another artwork that really grabbed my eye was the iron sculpture 'Sepeleshk,' which roughly translates to the phrase  'no way' in English. In Persian culture, calligraphy and beautiful writing in general are very commonplace and highly prized. The Persian alphabet (similar to Arabic text) itself is prized for its beauty. I was drawn to this piece because it related to the Mathematics + Art lecture we covered earlier this quarter. Safaei's sculpture is extremely precise: each letter of the word is the same length as every other letter. He has broken down the basic mathematical elements of what make calligraphy so beautiful and applied them to this sculpture. I was also especially drawn to the shadow on the wall created by the light hitting the sculpture (on the right). To me, this was very beautiful and illustrated the intersection between how simple geometric shapes (math), when hit at certain angles (physics), can result in beautiful and ever-changing/kinetic art.

Iman Safei, Iran
"Sepeleshk"

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in this exhibit. The interplay between science and art was present in many of the works, but mostly, it was an experience that felt like home to me.

Link to Event:
http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/islamic-art-now-contemporary-art-middle-east


References:

 Linda Komaroff. Part 2: Contemporary Art of the Middle East. Los Angeles: Linda Komaroff, 2016. Print.

Mater, Ahmed. Ahmed Mater. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://ahmedmater.com/artwork/>.

 Iman Safaei. Shiringalleryny.com. Shirin Gallery. Web. 17 May 2016. <http://shiringalleryny.com/artists/iman-safaei/>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Medtech and Art." UCLA. Los Angles, CA. 10 Apr 2016. Web. 17 May 2016.

 Mater, Ahmed. "Edge Of Arabia - Contemporary Art and Creative Movements from the Arab World." Edgeofarabia.com. Web. 18 May 2016. 

Week 8: Nanotechnology and Art

This week we learned about the history and development of nanotechnology and how it affects our every day lives. I remember early in my undergraduate career, UCLA held a nanotechnology fair in the Court of Sciences. I was asked to build a tower of blocks while wearing extremely large and bulky gloves. Needless to say, it was extremely difficult. After the activity, I was told that the activity was an analogy for how difficult it is for nanoscientists to build nano-sized structures with modern machines.

A nanotech motor
<https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNXM5rqFNibmDloqDgKXQnYPRxqeAbxuWlTZtPIf1qlJz9TEvRCWq-BXo03iUKMxAbquZDJGDIkhMqbl73DxHOG5wen1Ng8d0cucDCgO9LMD7od4gdwujPb5Dvviahl81uOlS1uksqPI/s1600/a8_pov_animation2.gif>

I was most intrigued by how nanotechnology is being utilized in the medical field, as its applications are far-reaching and incredibly important for the future of humanity. Currently, nanotechnology is used to deliver drugs, heat, light, or other substances to specific cells in the body. This is a method that is currently being used in the fight against cancer; nanoparticles are being used to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells.

Nano-processors attacking specific cells in the body
<http://media.mehrnews.com/d/2015/08/15/3/1795565.jpg?ts=1458370831520>

As covered in lecture, a few of these drugs are currently available to cancer patients, such as Abraxane, Doxil, and Emendo. Because these drugs target specific cancer cells instead of all the cells of the body, their side-effects are far less dangerous for patients. Additionally, the drugs are more effective at ridding patients of their cancer altogether.

Aside from cancer therapy, nanoparticles are being used to control appetite and cholesterol, to develop better drugs, to replace bones, and far, far more. The future of nanotechnology with respect to medicine is truly astounding. With this technology, we may be able to rid people of debilitating diseases quickly and efficiently. The future is bright.

References:

Gimzewski. "Nanotech for Artists, Part 4." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 10 May 2016. Web. 17 May 2016.

Gimzewski. "Nanotech for Artists, Part 5." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 10 May 2016. Web. 17 May 2016.

 "Nanotechnology Project." PEN News. Web. 18 May 2016.

<http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/medicine/apps/cancer/>

"Nanotechnology in Medicine - Nanomedicine." Nanotechnology in Medicine. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.understandingnano.com/medicine.html>.

"Nanotechnology in Medicine (Nanomedicine)." Nanowerk. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-in-medicine.php>. 

Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

The use of drugs as a means for artists to expand their minds is a controversial topic, but an important one to discuss. Often, drugs can challenge the user to view the world in a completely new way and can be used as a catalyst for inspiration and ingenuity. After learning this week of how drugs and art have intersected, I immediately thought of the artist Bryan Lewis Saunders. Saunders is an artist who became famous for drawing self portraits while on a variety of different drugs.

Saunders' self-portraits
<http://d3819ii77zvwic.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/portraits1.jpg>

His self-experiment and the results are not only important for the art world, but for the scientific world as well. They give the viewer insight into what the user is experiencing while on these drugs and the effects they have on the mind. They also cause one to ask such questions as: what is perception? What is consciousness? What are hallucinations, and do drugs break down the barrier between unconscious and conscious thought?

Diagram of the weight of the conscious vs. unconscious mind
<https://schriftman.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/unconsciousmind.jpg>

These are important questions, as the diagram to the right illustrates, based off of the theories of Freud and Jung, the unconscious mind composes a significant part of our minds. Perhaps drugs unleash this unconsciousness, and as illustrated by the artwork of Saunders, allow one to tap into the hidden creative energies of the unconscious mind.

Image illustrating the weight of the unconscious vs conscious mind in the human brain
<http://www.curezone.org/upload/_T_Forums/turiya_file/conscious_subconscious_unconscious1_longated.png>

Though condoning drugs for the purposes of 'mind expansion' and 'artistic expression' is a slippery slope, in moderation, I believe that in can produce incredible results for both artists and scientists.

References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 30 Apr 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.

Saunders, Bryan Lewish. "Under the Influence."Bryanlewissaunders.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 10 May 2016. <http%3A%2F%2Fbryanlewissaunders.org%2Fdrugs%2F>.

Freud, Sigmund, and James Strachey. The Ego and the Id. New York: Norton, 1962. Print.

Jung, C. G., and Mrs Beatrice Moses Hinkle. Psychology of the Unconscious; a Study of the Transformations and Symbolisms of the Libido, a Contribution to the History of the Evolution of Thought. New York: Moffat, Yard, 1916. Print.

Korte, Travis. "The Influence of Drugs in Art History." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 May 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/20/the-influence-of-drugs-in_n_851643.html>.

Week 6: Biotech and Art

Stelarc with the third ear he implanted into his forearm
<http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150812130237-stelarc-large-169.jpg>

As a biology major who has been involved in research since my sophomore year, I found this week's lecture to be a bit frustrating.Though I understand why artists want to use advances in biotechnology to further artistic expression, I personally believe that some of the artists that were covered in lecture wasted resources and money on useless projects. The artist Joe Davis is an example of this. Though I can appreciate his desire to push the boundaries of what is considered art and the philosophical discussions that arise due to his ideas, I find, for example, his pursuit to codify a poem and input it into the genome of a frog, as wasteful and unnecessary. These technologies are not cheap to use, and seeing someone use them to create a work of art that nobody can physically see is nonsensical to me.

Stelarc with a robotic third arm
<http://people.ucsc.edu/~joahanse/onlineexhibit/thirdhand/stelarc.jpeg>

Davis codified this symbol, of the human genitalia, put it into E.coli, and sent them into space as a 'message' for extra-terrestrials

I felt the same way with respect to Stelarc's "3rd ear" that he implanted beneath the skin on his forearm. He believes that "art is interesting when it becomes surprising," and with this mindset, it makes sense as to why he believes that implanting an ear onto his forearm is "art." But from my perspective, there is a line to be drawn between what art is and what it is not. If implanting an ear onto your forearm is art, then where is the line drawn? Perhaps hooking yourself up to an IV from your forehead veins is also art?

Though I understand that this is an extremely complex discussion on 'what is art,' I believe it is important for artists and scientists to work together to create certain ethical boundaries. This incredible technology does not come cheap, and it is aggravating for me to see it be used in this way. There are people across the world who do not have access to the most basic medicine, and here in the United States we have artists being commissioned to implant unnecessary ears onto their arms.


References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Biotech and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 20 April 2016. Web.

 Nadis, Steve. "Creating Art from Microbes and Molecules." Discover Magazine. 29 Mar. 2013. Web. 07 May 2016.

 "Artist Implants 'third Ear' on His Own Arm." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 11 Oct. 2007. Web. 07 May 2016. 

House, Patrick. "Object of Interest: The Twice-Forbidden Fruit." The New Yorker. 13 June 2014. Web. 07 May 2016. 

 "Joe Davis (artist)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 07 May 2016. 

Event 1: LASER

One of the speakers who was an artist

For my first event, I attended the LASER lecture on UCLA's campus. The event included about 7 speakers, each of whom spoke for about 5-7 minutes regarding their research/ artwork. What I found to be most interesting was the mixture of artists and scientists present. Scientists showcased their works about solar panel technology and robotics, and many of the artists there utilized technology (mostly lights, video recordings, sound, and simple robotics) to create their works.

Dr. Vesna introducing one of the speakers

Specifically, I want to focus on one of the lectures I saw concerning solar panels titled "The Future of our Energy Landscape: Could Plastic Solar Cells Meet our Energy Needs?". I am choosing to focus on this lecture as I understood its scientific implications the best and could see how heavily this product could influence the artistic world, as well as the general public. This heavily relates to the robotics/technology and art lectures we have studied so far.The lecture, as its title says, focused on creating plastic solar cells. The lecturer briefly described how electricity is generated through solar cells, then delved into plastic solar cells, specifically.

When she began describing the implications for this technology in the future, I became very excited. The genius behind plastic solar cells are that they are flexible and can be rolled out. What does this mean? Imagine every surface, sidewalks, bus stations, traffic lights, and buildings covered in solar panels. With an artistic eye, these solar panels can decorate our streets and make them truly beautiful while providing us with an endless supply of energy. The technology also has implications for wearable electronics, electronic clothing. and can push the boundaries of kinetic/electronic art. Artists can utilize this technology to power their robotics artworks and in collaboration with scientists can create designs that beautify the world we live in.

Overall, the lecture series was very interesting. However, to be honest, I did not enjoy most of the works of art I saw from the artists who presented. The majority of their art was too abstract and random for my taste, and seemed to simply pile a bunch of technology onto each other (videos, lighting in a room) and call it 'art.' It's important to note, however, that everyone has different tastes in art.

Me taking a horrible quality selfie outside the gallery

Link to the event, and link to Art|Sci Gallery at UCLA: http://artsci.ucla.edu/?q=laser-leonardo-art-science-evening-rendezvous

References:

 Pupols, Melody. "UCLA Chemists Devise Technology That Could Transform Solar Energy Storage." UCLA Newsroom. 18 June 2015. Web. 03 May 2016. 

<http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-chemists-devise-technology-that-could-transform-solar-energy-storage>

 "Polymer Solar Cells." Polymer Solar Cells. Web. 03 May 2016.

<http://plasticphotovoltaics.org/lc/lc-polymersolarcells.html>

"UCLA Art|Sci Center: LASER (Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous)." YouTube. Computing Technologies Research Lab Streaming, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 03 May 2016.

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

Merchant, Brian. "We're One Panel Closer to Printing Cheap, Plastic Solar Like Newspapers." Motherboard. 7 July 2014. Web. 03 May 2016.

Akst, Daniel. "Could Japanese Paper Art Help Solar Cells Follow the Sun?" WSJ. 18 Sept. 2015. Web. 03 May 2016. 

Week 5 Midterm Project: Empathy Unleashed:Understanding the Other

Week 4: Medicine, Technology, and Art

Growing up with an ultrasound technician for a mother, I was always awed by how science and technology could be used to look into a human's body. What was especially amazing was that the ultrasound machine that my mother so non-chalantly dealt with was emitting high frequency sound that was capable of breaking into a person's body to reveal what was going on inside. It sounded like something straight out of science fiction to me.

12 week old fetus in the womb
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/CRL_Crown_rump_lengh_12_weeks_ecografia_Dr._Wolfgang_Moroder.jpg>

After this week's lecture, I began to think more about how medical technologies could be and have been used for artistic expression, specifically focusing on X-Ray technology.

Around this time last year in Santa Monica, the Ad Council created an interactive piece using X-Rays to portray the different types of love that are present in society, to reinforce the concept in people's minds that we are all the same on the inside. People, regardless of age, size, gender, nationality stepped behind an X-Ray screen. The audience watching the screen could only see the X-Ray images of the individuals, and not any other factors. For me, this was an incredibly powerful ad that seamlessly melded the spheres of science and art to effectively encourage critical thought. It created an experience that deeply moved the viewers.

X-Ray art, I surprisingly learned, is not something new, but has been around for almost 100 years. Artists today still utilize this relatively simple technology to create their works. What strikes me as the most interesting are the philosophical conversations that can emerge as a result of this type of artwork. Through X-Rays, you can transcend the outer appearance of the body or an object to literally look inside it. 

X-Ray skulls overlapped with different images
<http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zreiSB4dUgo/Te_91ZEEWLI/AAAAAAABfAU/ITe4vyOA8ZM/s720/y4.jpg>

X-Ray of gun with rose
<https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8684/17192967419_7063f18eb6_b.jpg>

I doubt that Roentgen ever imagined that the medical technology he developed in 1895 would be applied in the manner it is being applied today. Roentgen's X-Ray technology not only opened doors in the medical profession, but created an entirely new medium through which artists could create visually astounding works of art.

References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine, Technology, and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 21 April 2016. Lecture.

Ad Council. "Love Has No Labels." Online video clip. Youtube. 10 Mar 2015. Web. 21 Apr 2016.

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

Keady, Cameron. Huffingtonpost.com. "Giant X-Ray Screen Erases Gender, Age, Race to Prove 'We Are All Human.' " Huffington Post. 5 Mar 2015. Web. 21 Apr 2016

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/psa-love-has-no-labels-skeletons_n_6801038.html>

Veasey, Nick. Nickveasey.com. Personal Website/Blog. Web. 21 Apr 2016.

<http://www.nickveasey.com/home/4570152827>

Unknown. "History of X-ray Art and Artists." Xraypics.wordpress.com. 28 April 2013. Web. 21 April 2016.

<https://xraypics.wordpress.com/history-of-x-ray-art-and-artists/>

Meyers, Steven N. "Innervisions." x-rayart.com. 14 Nov 2009. Web. 21 Apr 2016.

<http://www.xray-art.com/index.htm>

Week 3: Robotics and Art

 Machines enabled art to be mass produced for the first time, which for philosophers such as Walter Benjamin, took the authenticity, uniqueness, and originality out of art. Benjamin stated that its [the artwork's] 'presence is depreciated.' To an extent, I agree with Benjamin's outlook. Important and classical works of art, such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower, and Dali's The Persistence of Memory have been reprinted and photographed so often that the viewer has lost that sense of awe when looking at these works of art. To be honest, I have seen images of these artworks so frequently throughout my life that they have lost their artistic significance for me.

The mass production of the Mona Lisa, this iconic image today is reprinted on T-shirts, bags, mugs, and a variety of objects.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nqWavGPCcyLSOjL06B66uHX3zgnMCZf1PK5dGvCSgwRj7RN8G1B4PJgATTM1ad0a6SvCXCYVOOok98B-nCQhJk0T2JXuufDC0cM6v18SIMTh-ayTgU6UWN4CwvBLCYspJyZiKUl67noR/s1600/6.png

Though I agree with Benjamin's assertion, I believe that the concept of mass production forced and encouraged artists to create artwork that could not be replicated. Furthermore, it is important to note that the 'aura' of the artwork is a feeling manufactured by the viewer, not the object. So though for me viewing the Mona Lisa elicits no emotional response, for someone who feels a connection to the painting itself, the essence of that painting is maintained, regardless of how many times it has been reproduced or seen by the individual.

The face of the Prague Astronomical Clock (1462)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_timekeeping_devices

This balance between machines and art is most evident, to me, in the form of clocks. Clocks represent the ultimate convergence of machinations and art. Though there are bland clocks, there are also those that push the boundaries between art and science. And it is these clocks that, regardless of how many times they have been reproduced, still instill in me a sort of wonder, curiosity, and intrigue. Beginning in the early 15th century, clocks expertly meshed the boundaries between machines, astronomy, physics, and art.





A kinematic clock created by the artist Gordon Brandt
http://www.gordonbradt.com/clocks.htm

A modern clock that is both functional timepiece
and work of art

In modern times, though clocks are mass produced, the unique one's maintain their originality regardless of how many times they are reproduced. In my opinion, these clocks maintain the 'essence' that Benjamin argued is lost when products are mass produced. In the clock, we see a perfect and ancient example of  art, science, and robotics blending together to create something more beautiful, a feat that has stood the test of time.





References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics and Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 10 April 2016. Lecture.

Benjamin, Walter, and J. A. Underwood. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.

"History of Timekeeping Devices." Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 Feb, 2016. Web. 10 Apr, 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_timekeeping_devices#Mechanical_clocks>

Marie, Niclas. "Managing Ancient Schedules: A Look at Ancient Timepieces." Web blog post. Timecenter. 12 Jan 2016. Web. 10 Apr 2016.
<https://www.timecenter.com/articles/managing-ancient-schedules-a-look-at-ancient-timepieces/>

Tom. "25 Cool and Unusual Clocks." Web blog post. Boredpanda.com. 12 Feb 2012. Web. 10 Apr 2016. 

<http://www.boredpanda.com/cool-and-creative-clocks/>

Bradt, Gordon. "Kinetic Art and the Desk Top Clock." Web blog post. Gordonbradt.com. 10 Mar 2010. Web. 10 Apr 2016.
<http://www.gordonbradt.com/clocks>

Week 2: Math and Art

This week's lecture and notes were amusing since I have always considered a basic understanding of mathematics (specifically geometry) essential in creating realistic artwork. It was interesting to see the strength of the divide that has been created between these two disciplines when in fact, art would not be what it is today without advances in mathematical understanding.

A pre-Renaissance art piece with disproportionate dimensions and no perspective.
My early art pieces looked similar to this one.

The link between math and art became obvious for me as a teenager, when I first began drawing. My early artwork resembled those of the pre-Renaissance era, namely, they were flat, had a one point perspective, and were proportionally off.











Eventually, I learned about linear perspective, optics, and geometry by studying Renaissance era art, which to me as an amateur artist looked incredibly realistic and proportionally sound.

Masolino's 'St. Peter Healing a Cripple and the Rising of Tabitha' with perspective lines.

Creating proportionally accurate drawings is very time consuming and difficult, and I am still not very good at it. The above painting has almost perfect perspective lines, and I have yet to wrap my mind around how exactly this works. Without a deep understanding of optics, I find it very difficult for me to create realistic artwork, and this just reinforces in my mind the concept that mathematics and art are intricately linked.

  We can even see the relationship between math and art in contemporary artworks. This is evident at UCLA where 2 mathematics professors were hired by Disney studios to help Disney create an algorithm for snow, in order to make the snow in the movie Frozen look more realistic (http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/math-wizards-create-snow-for-disney-263913). The video to illustrates the technique that the math professors created.





 The clip on the left shows how the techniques the professors developed were applied in the movie.














From M.C. Escher's art, to intricate mathematical origami, to UCLA mathematics professors studying snow, mathematics continues to build and create new avenues for artists to shape their worlds. Like many things that are portrayed as black and white in society, an incorrect juxtaposition exists between mathematics and art that clearly defies reality.

References:

Vesna, Victoria. "Math + Art." UCLA. Los Angeles, CA. 4 April 2016.  Lecture.

Haikudeck.com. One-Point Perspective. Unknown. 18 November 2015. Web. 1 April 2016.
<https://www.haikudeck.com/1-pt-perspective-art-and-design-presentation-YGZfnRpH47#slide0>

Frantz, Mark. Mathaware.org. Drawing with Awareness. Indiana University, April 2003. Web. 1 April 2016. < http://www.mathaware.org/mam/03/essay6.html>

Walt Disney Animation Studios. Disney's Frozen: A Material Point Method for Snow Stimulation. Online video clip. YouTube. 13 November 2013. Web. 1 April 2016.
 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H1gRQ6S7gg>

Walt Disney Animation Studios. Disney's Frozen: Wolf Chase Clip. Online video clip. YouTube. 28 October 2013. Web. 1 April 2016.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF7AfwMzrpc>

Da Panicale, Masolino. St. Peter Healing a Cripple and the Rising of Tabitha. 1400.  Fresco. Brancacci Chapel, Florence.