NanoTech

Similar to the week's lectures on Biotechnology where scientists work with physicians to develop ways to show and explain what is inside the body using technology mixed with art, this week's topic, Nanotechnology also is mixed with art by these scientists.  Saldana Cavalle writes in his blogs, on NanoWiki.com, about three main ways developers are designing ways to use nanotechnology to image different internal parts of the body.  



The first and, in my opinion most revolutionary, way he writes about is how "nano particles" are being injected into the blood stream and being located to help visualize the inside of arteries in different spots in order to locate potential clotting spots.  These images could save lives!  It is incredible that the work of scientist combined with imaging technology can be artistically used to have such an impact on human life.

The second two ways he explains that Nanotechnology is being applied is in pollution studies and through a diagnostic tool.  Both areas are using Nanotechnology and artistic imaging to show ailing cells that have been damaged due to pollution or due to an oncoming disease.  This technology is very beneficial but could not be anywhere close to as helpful without the art and imaging that gives the necessary visualization doctors use to diagnose patients.

Continuing on education:
In the Australian John Curtin Gallery, a collective of artists used knowledge scientists established to make interactive (and somewhat random) art installations that brought that knowledge to life.  It was said that the artists designed the exhibits to create a new way of "sensing and connecting with matter that’s miniscule and abstract."  Like the aforementioned uses of art to bring Nanotechnology to life, these exhibits used the knowledge of what is inside us to deliver another a way of understanding to the viewers and interacters.

Education is a huge reason for creating images using Nanotechnology.  In a well-know and close to heart example from my own childhood, The Magic School Bus series went inside the human body to explore whats inside (though animation rather than imaging technology and exhibits of course).  Its easy for the children to get a grasp of the technology that scientist spent the last few decades developing.

It is always said that artwork has a therapeutic effect on ill patients, but never before could it be said that art is subtly being used to save ill patients.   All in all, the future looks bright when it comes to Nanotechnology since scientist can use it to help patients, and art can be used to educate the public and the youth so that the future can be even brighter!


Saldaña Cavallé, Josep. "Programmable Bio-Nano-Chip as Medical Diagnostic Tool." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://nanowiki.info/#%5B%5BProgrammable%20Bio-Nano-Chip%20as%20Medical%20Diagnostic%20T

http://www.unctwb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/nanotechnology2.jpg

"art in the age of nanotechnology."Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

http://covers.booktopia.com.au/big/9780590414272/the-magic-school-bus-inside-the-human-body.jpg

Saldaña Cavallé, Josep. "New nanoparticles make blood clots visible." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.<http://nanowiki.info/#%5B%5BNew%20nanoparticles%20make%20blood%20clots%20visible%5D%5D>.

http://media.psnstores.com/images/microbot/4.jpg

Saldaña Cavallé, Josep . "Findings on Pollution Damage." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://nanowiki.info/#%5B%5BFindings%20on%20Pollution%20Damage%5D%5D>.

NeuroSci+Art

The example of using art to explain the inner conscious that was the most prominent to me is Henry Ford Hospital pictured in "Consciousness and Beyond."  This piece explores what the woman depicted is feeling post-miscarriage.  The way that the artist displays the inner mind and the emotion on the canvas is moving.  (Shown to the right).  Not only does the piece show emotion, it tells a story that moves the viewer through the journey the mother-in-waiting went through.

The topic this week is connecting Neuroscience with art.  The same article continues to say:

"Consciousness is a very difficult idea to grasp but what is true is that many hundreds of people try to express them in various form whether in sons, book, paintings, sculptures, or speech it is a phenomena that leads to great emotion provoking art work."  

[pg. 3]

In the article on brain damage by Lee Heeseok references a case where the patient, post-brain damage, is "unable to stop drawing."  The point of the article is to show the relationship between brain consciousness/ function and the effect it has on the personality of the patient-the last example being the aforementioned drawing patient. 

To me, using art work as an outlet to try to explain the workings of our minds is the most accurate way to portray our inner minds.  The reason being because the art work about the inner mind is being produced from the inner mind itself.  Not much artwork is able to hit such a deep place in the emotional consciousness of the viewer.  

After looking around a little for pieces that related neuroscience and art, I found my favorite piece (shown below):

This piece displays how the artist's mind is uncontrollable and constantly gyrating, symbolized by the running legs placed on the brain.

Bongco, John Philip. Psychology of Memory and Consciousness. Print.

"Art and Emotion." Free online arts games. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.artsology.com/artemotion.php>.

http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images_970_527233_gino-rubert.jpg

http://www.bu.edu/neuro/files/2009/12/ugneuro1.jpg

Heeseok, Lee. Brain Damage and Consciousness. Print.

Art is about creating a new vision of the world or designing a new object to wow the world.  The creation of art and the updates in biotech in respect to genetically modified organisms (GMO'S) are developing in the same direction; augmenting reality to create art.

Genetically modified organisms are created by scientists by designing hybrids of already existing foods and mixing genes to forge their masterpiece, much like artists use falsities and reality to make their own masterpiece.  GMO's are also developed to make foods healthier or tastier.

Moving past GMO's, scientist have begun to mess with human genes and are trying to create a way to "pick and choose" genes to create a human.  The same idea of making food healthier/tastier is the basis of changing human chromosome patterns to yield more attractive and medically-sound hybrids.


The intension of the genetic engineering biotechnology project is in good heart as to create a new generation of healthy, longer-living people.  However, the act of messing with the body to create this "art" is under moral question.  How far will this go?  To begin, it will be only the wealthiest and most daring of families who will be able to give their future children's genes up to the "artists."

Books and movies have illustrated how messing with human genes can cause catastrophe and disease.  In 28 Days Later, the main character slips into a coma just before a mutenigenetic plague takes over his country.  He wakes up 28 days after the population has become zombie-like as a result of human genetic engineering.  

For better or worse, messing with the genetics of either humans, animals, or food has become a new easel that scientists work on to create new hybrids.

http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2013/04/GeneticEngineering_040913-617x416.jpg

"Seed Magazineabout." Wanted: GM Seeds for Study § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/wanted_gm_seeds_for_study/>.

"Seed Magazineabout." This is Your Brain on Food § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/this_is_your_brain_on_food/>.

"Strains:." VivoArts: Embryonic Sculpting. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://emutagen.com/embryo.html>.

"Seed Presents: Revolutionary Minds: Natalie Jeremijenko." Natalie Jeremijenko. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://www.inspirationgreen.com/natalie-jeremijenko.html>.

Waananen, Lisa. "Syringes, gas masks and Frankenfood: Visuals of the GMO debate." INSIDER. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2013/09/27/syringes-gas-masks-and-frankenfood-visuals-of-the-gmo-debate>.

http://www.icmb.utexas.edu/facilities/mouse/images/inj_90.jpg.

http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/B1/TECH-SUPPORT-mdn.jpg