Week 4: MedTech + Art

Just as with math, I have struggled for a while to understand how medicine and anatomy could play a role in art -- and vice versa. 

Henry Gray, who published his book Gray's Anatomy in 1858, significantly improved my understanding of this intersection. Gray's Anatomy, a textbook on human anatomy, was illustrated by Henry Vandyke Carter and in doing so helped to make complex anatomical concepts accessible to a wider audience, including medical students and professionals (Vesna) -- an example of how art is used to spread deeper information about scientific concepts. 

Gray's Anatomy, 1858

Representing the human body in accurately in art has also led to advances in both anatomical and artistic knowledge. Leonardo DaVinci had a fascination with the external and internal workings of the body, observing and dissecting cadavers as models for his art. His ability to accurately capture the human form in his artwork was rooted in his understanding of anatomy, and his anatomical drawings were highly detailed and precise, often even surpassing those of trained medical professionals (Sooke).

Da Vinci's drawing 'Anatomical Study'

In his article "The Architecture of Life", Donald E. Ingber explores a similar concept. He emphasizes the importance of the intricate architecture of cells in understanding the fundamental principles of life. Ingber argues that by exploring the principles of cellular architecture, artists gain insights into how biological systems work and use this knowledge to create new forms of art that are, in return, inspired by and reflective of the natural world.

As new technological tools emerge to help us gain a deeper insight into the human body, however, the ethical implications of using medical technology in art increase. The use of MRI technology in the arts can create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge-sharing, but can also raise questions about the potential for exploitation, voyeurism, and the commodification of medical technology (Casini). This can be seen in the example of Joseph Jernigan, whose body was used for the Visible Human Project. This sparked controversy and raised ethical concerns about the use of human remains in medical research and education because the project did not obtain explicit consent for the use of his body (“The Ethics of a Project in Virtual Anatomy”).

Visible Human Male (left), and the Female (right), released in 1995


Works Cited

Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine + Technology + Art | Lecture Part 1." DESMA 9, 28th April 2023, UCLA, Los Angeles.

Sooke, Alastair. “Leonardo Da Vinci's Groundbreaking Anatomical Sketches.” BBC Culture, BBC, 24 Feb. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130828-leonardo-da-vinci-the-anatomist.

Ingber, Donald E. The Architecture of Life. 1998, http://www.learningmethods.com/downloads/pdf/ingber--architecture.of.life.pdf.

Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts", 2011.

“The Ethics of a Project in Virtual Anatomy.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 23 July 2020, https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-ethics-of-a-project-in-virtual-anatomy/.


Images Cited

“Gray's Anatomy.” Goodreads, Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/475900.Gray_s_Anatomy. 

“Leonardo Drawings, a Study of Anatomy from the Renaissance Master.” Italian Renaissance Art.com, https://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/leonardo-drawings.html.

“The Visible Human Project at 20 | NLM in Focus.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, https://infocus.nlm.nih.gov/2014/12/31/the-visible-human-project-at-20/.


Comments

  1. shellyalonsoDESMA9April 30, 2023 at 11:37 PM

    Hey Diya! I enjoyed the way you were able to incorporate this weeks information onto your blog! I liked how you included the ethical concerns on the Visible Human Project. After learning about this project and Joseph Jernigan I wondered myself if that was ethical for them to do. I find it fascinating how both art the human body can be so personal.

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