Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

As Picasso once said:  'Art washes away from the soul the dirt of everyday life', art has long been considered as a method for people to express themselves and relieve stress from their daily life. Indeed, recent studies in cognitive research have shown that art, both the creation or the appreciation of work, can significantly improve the brain's functionality.

The study, 'How Art Changes Your Brain', focuses on understanding the effects of visual art at a neural level. Participants are divided into two groups: the visual art production group actively produce art in an art class while the cognitive art evaluation group asses artworks at a museum. The paper explains how those producing art showed greater spatial improvement in functional connectivity as well as greater psychological resilience than the others. Although many people have stood by the relaxing effect that art creation supposedly brings, this finding provides concrete proof regarding the neurological effect of art and begs the question: if art had such a significant effect on the brain, what would be the brain's influence on the perception of art?

Neuroesthetics, the study of neural bases for the contemplation and creation of art, is a field devoted to understnad the aesthetic perception of art at the neurological level. Since primitive visual stimuli like lines prompts the repeated activation of neutrons and result in the viewers' aesthetic enjoyment, understanding the working of the brain can not only explain why some artworks are more appealing to the audience but also how they look the way they do.

A classic example explained through neuroesthetics is 'Mona Lisa' by Leonardo Da Vinci. Through focusing on different areas of the painting, the expression on Mona Lisa's face seems to change. Since there is a discrepancy in our peripheral and central vision system, Mona Lisa's smile appear to extend as our focus move from Mona Lisa's mouth to eyes. This is because the shadows from her cheek is considered part of the smile by the peripheral system and affect the image processed by the brain.

Mona Lisa

Simulation of the perception of Mona Lisa when viewed in the peripheral vision, on the left and middle, and straight-on.

It is very interesting to understand the effects the brain and art have on one another. I believe as the field of neuroesthetics develop, it will only help foster the development in art by finding new ways to appeal to the brain.

Research in neuroesthetics shows that blurry images connect more directly with emotional centers of the brain, adding emotional appeal with the blurriness of the face.

Citations 

Alban, Deane. "The Mental Health Benefits of Art Are for Everyone." Be Brain Fit. Be Brain Fit, 21 Oct. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Bergado, Gabe. "Science Shows Art Can Do Incredible Things for Your Mind and Body." Mic. Mic, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

Bolwerk, Anne, Jessica Mack-Andrick, Frieder R. Lang, Arnd Dörfler, and Christian Maihöfner. "How Art Changes Your Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Art Evaluation on Functional Brain Connectivity." PLoS ONE 9.7 (2014): n. pag. Web.

Brooks, Katherine. "Study Says Making Art Is Good For Your Brain, And We Say You Should Listen." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 08 July 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Clow, Angela, and Cathrine Fladhoi. "Normalisation of Salivary Cortisol Levels and Self-report Stress by a Brief Lunchtime Visit to an Art Gallery by London City Workers." WestminsterResearch. University of Westminster, 2006. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

"Imagerie Très Haute Defintion :: Le Joconde." Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France. Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

Mallonee, Laura C. "Study Finds Making Art May Keep Our Brains Healthy." Hyperallergic RSS. Hyperallergic RSS, 07 July 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

Week 6: BioTech + Art

'Riddle of Life' by Joe Davis with the message: 'I am the riddle of life. Know me and you will know yourself.'

What interests me the most in the topic discussed this week is how genetic manipulation are used to create BioArt that in turn, encourages discussion about the consequences of genetic engineering.

While humans have been experimenting with genomes for centuries through selective breeding, direct manipulation of DNA is a relatively new field. Since then, scientists have been assembling different types of DNA, creating transgenic animals and genetically modified organisms (GMO). Although GMO production has greatly alleviated world hunger, its consequences have been the center of a heated debate ever since. Artists are able to bring these controversies to light through BioArt.

One of such artists is Eduardo Kac, who first coined the term BioArt. Kac is a pioneer in many genres but his most publicized works center around the usage and critique of biotechnology. His first transgenic artwork, 'Genesis', is a particularly thought-provoking piece. It explores the relationship between biology, computer science, and the ethics behind these sciences. Kac created an 'artist's gene' by translating a quote from Genesis 1:26 in the bible (about human's superiority over nature) into Morse Code and DNA base pairs. They are implanted and displayed into an E.coli bacterium. Viewers are able to shine an UV light on the bacterium to cause mutation in its genes, as well as the biblical quote. This piece is especially interesting since the act of changing it stems from the viewer's disagreement with the quote but at the same time, it only reaffirms the quote's meaning.

Genesis

Similar to Kac, Joe Davis has also experimented on genetic engineering in his work, from genetically engineering silk worm to spin metallic gold to encoding a map of the Milky Way into the ear of a mouse. The most intriguing of all is titled 'Malus Eccelsia', a project to insert a DNA-encoded version of Wikipedia into an apple and create a literal living tree of knowledge. Since the apple was referred to the forbidden fruit in the bible and the U.S. government restricts unregulated eating of genetically altered plants, the mutated apple would literally be twice forbidden. This project, just like Davis's career as an Artist Scientist, is a perfect example of the collaboration between arts and sciences.

Transgenic silk from genetically modified silk worms

Since BioArt is still a relatively new field, I look forward to seeing how it would develop in the future and its impact on society's view on biotechnology.

Citations

"Bioart: An Introduction." Phys.org. Phys.org, 23 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Caputo, Joseph. "Creating Art with Genes and Bacteria." Elsevier Connect. Elsevier, 20 Jan. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

"Design By Sequence." Genetics and Culture: From Molecular Music to Transgenic Art. UCLA Design|Media Arts 98T, 24 Apr. 2003. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Gibbs, W. Wayt. "Art as a Form of Life." Scientific American. Scientific American, 01 Apr. 2001. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

House, Patrick. "Object of Interest: The Twice-Forbidden Fruit." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 13 May 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Kac, Eduardo. "GENESIS." Kac Web. Eduardo Kac, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Lynch, Lisa. "Trans-Genesis: An Interview with Eduardo Kac." Kac Web. Eduardo Kac, Spring 2003. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Osthoff, Simone. "Eduardo Kac's Genesis: Biotechnology Between the Verbal, the Visual, the Auditory, and the Tactile." Kac Web. Eduardo Kac, Oct. 2001. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

Week 4: MedTech + Art

If I were to describe the relationship between medicine, technology, and art with one sentence, I would say that the technological advancement in the field of medicine provided a new medium for the expression of art.

Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see art in the form of make-up. With make-up, people compose incredible work on themselves and alter their outlooks temporarily, their own bodies representing their standard of beauty, their own faces becoming movable art installations.

The most-watched make-up tutorial on youtube with more than 100, 000, 000 views in total

Aside from make-up, plastic surgery also offers a way for people to use their body as a medium of art.

In this week's lecture, Professor Vesna introduced a brief history of plastic surgery and examples in which artists are able to create artwork by changing their body. When it comes to plastic surgery, the kind of augmentation that first comes to mind are cosmetic surgeries, performed simply to increase attractiveness. I am fascinated to find that plastic surgeries were first documented over 4000 years ago. It is also interesting to see how techniques first developed to reconstruct damaged body parts are now being used more often as an art form.

The work of ORLAN, The Reincarnation of Saint-Orlan, is particularly fascinating to me. ORLAN underwent multiple plastic surgeries to acquire beauty as depicted by male artists. The unrealistic idealization of female beauty is often observed in paintings by male artists. While such impractical conception is usually criticized by female artists, ORLAN chose to embrace and portray it using her own body. Without the advancement in plastic surgery, this and many other artworks alike, would not have been possible.

ORLAN during one of her plastic surgeries

While plastic surgery acts as a medium for art, other fields of medicine inspire the creation of artwork instead. As mentioned by Professor Vesna, images from medical imaging systems are often interpreted as art. This belief is shared by Laura Jacobson, inspired by MRIs of the human brain to create clay sculptures, etchings, and acrylics. Using her own brain scans, Jacobson was able to create works that connects society, mind, and brain, as well as investigate the connection between neuroscience and society.

A piece from Jacobson's collection, Brain Scapes I

A piece from Jacobson's collection, Brain Scapes I

This week's discussion offers a lot of insight into the connection between technology and art in ways unexpected. I am surprised to learn that medicine, a field seemingly unrelated to art, could have such impact on the work of body artists as well as traditional artists.

Citation

 "Contoversial Artist Orlan The Reincarnation of Saint-Orlan - Creative Mapping." Creative Mapping. Creative Mapping, 04 Aug. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

 Donald, Brooke. "Artwork Inspired by MRI Brain Scans Installed at Stanford Imaging Center." Stanford University. Stanford University, 5 June 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

 Dope2111. "'INSIDE OUT' Makeup Tutorial (Disgust,Sadness,Joy,Anger & Fear)." YouTube. YouTube, 16 July 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

 Jeffries, Stuart. "Orlan's Art of Sex and Surgery." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 01 July 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

 Johnson, Samantha. "The "Weird Science" of Plastic Surgery Art - Introducing Artist Orlan." IEnhance. IEnhance, 24 May 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

 "Laura Jacobson Fine Art GallerieS." Brain Scapes I. Laura Jacobson, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

 Salcido, Jannelle. "The History of Plastic Surgery." PlasticSurgery.com. PlasticSurgery.com, 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

 Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. 

Week 3: Robotics + Art

Technology, especially robotics, have been long regarded as a tool used for the advancement of arts. From 3D printers to computer aided drawings, the development in robotics has given artists new ways to envision and create their work. However, we often neglect the effect that art has on robotics. Creative minds are always imagining new ways that robotics can evolve, playing a huge role in shaping the future of robotics. The most prominent way that art influences robotics is through science fiction movies. 

Sci-fi movies are known to depict futuristic technologies that are yet to invented or discovered. While the technologies are often deemed impossible at the time they were introduced, many turned out to be quite feasible as our technology improves, and serve as inspirations to real life inventions. 

Robot Duel in Movie "Robot Jox"

An example of how ideas portrayed in movies inspired scientific mind is through the movie 'Robot Jox'. This movie, along with many others, introduced the idea of robotics to the general public. Generations of children grew up watching giant robots face off one another during battles and fantasizing the possibility of those dramatic duels coming to life one day. 

The Robot by Megabots - MK II

This is reflected in the similarity between the fictional robots and those in real life when technological advancement finally caught up with the imagination of artistic minds. The advancement allows people to make their childhood dream come true - recreating the iconic robot duel seen in numerous movies. The work of screenwriters and movie directors motivates people in pursuing technological advancement and is the driving force behind the improvement in robotics.

Another example of art influencing robotics is how the Iron Man suit as illustrated in comics, printed artwork, and movies, is helping the world rethink armor designs for military usage. It has always been a priority to countries around the world to protect their soldiers during combat using the latest technologies. The suit worn by the fictional superhero has inspired scientists in the US army to approach it from a new perspective, a more high-tech and electronically powered option.

Despite the notion proposed by Walter Benjamin that the mass production of art results in the loss of originality, I do believe that the goal of art is to influence as many people as possible and would be worth sacrificing the 'aura' of the original work if it leads to advancements that will benefit the humankind. 

Citation

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

Iron Man. Dir. Jon Favreau. Prod. Avi Arad and Kevin Feige. By Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, and Matthew Holloway. Perf. Robert Downey, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Paramount Pictures, 2008. 

"MegaBots." MegaBots. Megabots. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

Person, and John Biggs. "A Million Dollar Robot Suit Is Available On." TechCrunch. TechCrunch, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

Robot Jox. Dir. Stuart Gordon. Prod. Charles Band. Screenplay by Joe Haldeman. Perf. (Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson, Paul Koslo. Trans World Entertainment, 1990. 

"Support Team USA in the Giant Robot Duel!" Kickstarter. Megabots, 18 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

"US Army Tests Real Life Iron Man Suit." YouTube. The Next News Network, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

Week 2: Math + Art

                  

Mathematics and art are often described as subjects of polar opposite natures: one being a subject of logic and objectivity, another focusing on the expression of emotions and subjectivity. At school, the way we are encouraged and taught to think when approaching math problems are methodical, a step-by-step process designed to result in a designated answer; while the approach for art is more free-formed with no right or wrong answer. Portrayed as completely separate entities at school, it is ingrained in children's mind that there are no significant link between mathematics and art. I for one, have never considered the connection between these two subjects. The lecture and readings this week acts as a very good introduction on how mathematics influenced the evolution of arts, and vice versa.

The way artists uses mathematical principle to enhance the authenticity of their artwork was particularly memorable to me. As Marc Franz explained in his lesson regarding vanishing points, the technique is helpful in establishing the space in the painting and how the different elements in the artwork are interacting in the space. Accurate portrayal of depth and proportion are essential in depicting the scene accurately. The significance of this technique can be seen by comparing between pieces from before and after the renaissance period.




The painting on the left, Old Testament Trinity, is a representation of how artworks from the pre-renaissance era often lacks the realism present in more recent work. The lack of understanding in mathematical principles might be the contributing factor towards the disproportional objects in the painting. An examination of a more recent painting displayed on top proves the importance of vanishing points in accurately portraying a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional medium.




One of the more memorable concepts mentioned in this week's lecture is how nature, art, and architecture can be described using the mathematical concept of the golden ratio. Upon researching more about the use of golden ratio in art, I am surprised to find how deeply rooted the concept is in the paintings of renaissance artists. From Leonardo Da Vinci to Raphael, many artists utilize the concept of golden ratio to construct and impart a sense of balance in their paintings. The video below offers a detailed explanation of Da Vinci's use of the golden ratio and helps viewers better appreciate the work of Da Vinci using mathematical concepts.

The discussion this week regarding the relationship between mathematics and art encouraged me to look for traces of mathematics present in both art and around us. Indeed, although the mathematical concepts we learn about in school seems purely theoretical at times, they are often useful in explaining phenomenons of the world we are in, as well as helping us appreciate elements in art that would otherwise never be developed.

Week 1: Two Cultures

The idea of two cultures was first introduced by British chemist and novelist, Charles Percy Snow during his 1959 Rede Lecture. The lecture, later published as a book, describes the separation of intellectual life into the cultures of literary intellectuals and natural scientists. He accredited the failure of education system as the reason behind the divergence, and predicted that such separation would make it difficult to solve the world’s problem efficiently.

The separation described by Snow opened up the doors for discussion regarding the effect of two cultures and the possibility of a third culture emerging as a result. In his paper presented in 2000, Stephen Wilson expressed his vision of the future collaboration between science/technology and art, and envisions a future where science/technology and art begins to blend into one culture.

The merging of cultures that Wilson spoke of has begun, as evident in the involvement of art in some of the latest scientific breakthroughs.

One of the most significant collaborations between the two cultures came in the form of DNA Origami. While the design and manufacturing of DNA structures for technological usages was first proposed in the 1980s by Nadrian Seeman, the method used for DNA origami was only introduced about 10 years ago, where long viral strands of DNA are folded using staple strands to create structures. Aside from its usage in the biomedical field for drug delivery within the human body, the technique has been used to create art pieces that can be observed via microscopy. Starting with simple shapes, the creations became more complex as the technique matures. The most-sited of DNA origami creations is the smiley face, as seen on the cover of Nature.

A case where science and technology are not only involved but also helps pave the future of art creation is in virtual reality. Using Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset, and Tilt Brush, a virtual reality sculpting and painting tool, users are able to paint in three-dimensional space. It is remarkable how technology can completely revolutionize art by introducing a whole new medium where users can step inside the painting and use materials that are previously impossible: fire, smoke, stars, etc.

As evident in the above examples, Art and Science/Technology are no longer completely separate cultures as many might think but ones that go hand in hand to create the best future for our society.