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Although outer space and art are widely different aspects of the human experience, they both have the same goal – to better understand the human experience. Artists challenge the boundaries of what is possible, especially through works and pieces of science fiction. Artists "…have continued to be instrumental catalysts in our quest to conquer the unknown, because they imagine the future before it happens – as the saying goes, life imitates art," (Maldonado).  Space art by Charles Bittinger shows the solar system as imagined in 1939 Ideas such as a "space elevator", a structure made of carbon nanotubes that stretch from earth to space as introduced in the 1976 science fiction novel The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke, envision concepts that have yet to be imagined or implemented (Vesna). An even earlier such example appears in the 1865 science fiction novel From Earth to the Moon , which proposes a projectile launch to the moon using a giant cannon, explor...

Prior to this week’s lectures, I had very little knowledge of what exactly nanotechnology was and how it had been integrated into my own everyday life, let alone into art. Upon understanding its real world applications, it was eye-opening to see how nanotechnology has also affected various art forms and vice versa. One of the most surprising examples of this for me was the use of nanotechnology in stained glass. The type and size of different nanoparticles help stained glass artists achieve different colors and hues in their work (Gimzewski). In this way, the precise control over material properties offered to artists via nanotechnology has expanded artistic possibilities and pushed the boundaries of traditional artistic techniques (El Sayegh). Stained glass is just one example of how nanotechnology is used in art – the exhibition “Art in the Age of Nanotechnology” at the John Curtin Gallery features a diverse range of artworks that utilize nanotechnology in various ways. ‘Nanomandala’...

 Yesterday, I was able to attend the MFA Town Hall Exhibition at Broad Art Center at UCLA. As someone who doesn't regularly visit art museums or exhibitions, I was amazed at the creativity and dedication showcased in each individual exhibition. I had also never (in person) seen art that incorporated technology and interactivity into it so well. The piece in the exhibition that stood out the most to me was one by artist Eunice Choi titled 'In between letting out and holding in'. It was set up in a room-like structure, with white walls and scissors made of cucumbers engraved into the walls. The 'room' had blinds made of resin cucumbers, a clock filled with resin cucumbers, and a cooler that held resin cucumbers and a metal book. In the center was a table with more resin cucumbers and a white cutting board, onto which a video was being projected. I asked the artist why her object of choice was a cucumber, and she told me the story behind her exhibition. She explained t...

  As a cognitive science major, I find the topic of how art can challenge and engage a one's cognitive processes and vice versa to be very intriguing, as it is right at the center of my field of study. Throughout this course, I have found that art and science have one main thing in common: understanding the human experience. In this case, art -- with its ability to evoke emotions and challenge perceptions -- offers a unique platform for exploring the intricacies of the brain and its responses. Neuroscience provides scientific insights that can serve to deepen our understanding of artistic processes and aesthetic experiences ( Blaszczyk) . This is also known as neuroaesthetics, an emerging field that investigates the neural basis of artistic experiences -- and in doing so, provides insights into the scientific vs cultural aspects of art appreciation and creativity ( Frazzetto and Anker) . An aspect of this week's topic that I found particularly intriguing was the way biological ...

Since I have always considered biotechnology to be a field related to medicine and healthcare, the topic of using biotechnology as an art from to raise questions about living organisms, ethics, and the meaning of art itself has been very intriguing for me.  My initial reaction upon learning of various artists' ventures into art using biotechnology was concern about the morality of such artwork, which I've come to find is a topic that has been widely debated. Professor Vesna mentioned that art such as Eduardo Kac's flourescent bunny, Alba, has been deemed "needless and abusive" and not considered to be art (Vesna, Lecture Part 1). This, to me, poses the question of whether or not it is valid for artists to treat animals as test subjects or use them as vessels in creating art when it alters the natural chemistry of their bodies.  As such, bioart often involves the use of living organisms that may be harmed or killed in the process of creating the artwork and raises ...

I attended the Cosmological Elements showcase event on Friday, April 21st via Zoom. The Cosmological Elements project explores the power of art to inspire and connect people to the beauty and wonder of the universe. By creating art that captures the essence of the cosmos, the artists were able to create a sense of awe for the natural world and the mysteries of the universe (Statement - Cosmological Elements). The first exhibition that caught my eye was one by Professor Victoria Vesna titled "Alien Stardust". Visitors can interact with the exhibition through touch and movement, which activates the "cosmic tree" displayed in the exhibition and evokes the cosmic origins of life. The installation includes 7 different meteorites, one for each continent. "Alien Stardust" is the epitome of using art to evoke curiosity and wonder about a scientific field -- it uses a combination of art, technology, and outer space knowledge to inspire visitors to contemplate the i...