Event 3

This past weekend I visited the noise aquarium that Professor Vesna set up on UCLA's campus. Upon walking into the exhibition I was confused as to what our professor had on display for her students but was very much intrigued. I saw a student on a pressure pad and a projector displaying what appeared to be bacteria. She then explained to us that it was a called a noise aquarium that spotlights animated 3D models of plankton by scientific imaging techniques. The topic that we learned in lecture that applies to this exhibition is Biotech + Art.

With the use of this biotech an animated art form was displayed turning the pressure of a human to an intricate projection that emulated art.  However, the projection wasn't the most interesting part in my opinion. Professor Vesna also set up a loud sound system that was intended to show the effect on noise pollution on plankton. A person stands on the pressure plate and feels how plankton are affected by nano pollution. Below is a picture of me with a plankton displayed on the projector.

This presentation raises awareness of the pollution that is currently going on in today's society. Biotech and art worked hand in hand to create this art form that provides a demonstration to observers. Different types of scientists such as biologists, chemists, nano-toxicologists worked with an animator that turned the scientists ideas into a physical representation.  

Week 9 Space + Art

As new technology is being built and all of Earths materials are being stripped away by the growing number of humans, space is being studied now more than ever. Scientists were even thinking about colonizing other planets in case of Earth's distinction. When looking up at the stars at night, there is this beautiful assortment of bright lights that is known as space. We continue to learn more and more about space everyday, but there is still so much that we do not know. People have to use art in a way to express what we do know about space.

Chesley Bonestell has a ton of intricate drawings that show what the surface of other planets look like as well as many other aspects of space. We have no real way to confirm these pictures are realistic, but they are drawn so well they look like they are photographs. Bonestell creates fascinating pieces of art that are some of the best I have seen so far when it comes to connecting art, technology, and space. 

People across the world seem to be fascinated with the idea of space travel and discovering new things about other planets. Any space-like experience that can be conceived as art adds to this cultural phenomenon. Institutions like the Griffith Observatory right here in Los Angeles and planetariums allow people to learn more about space and experience it as art. 

Works Cited: 

“ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE INITIATIVE.” ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE INITIATIVE, arcticperspective.org/.

Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.

What Are Constellations?, www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html.

“Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods.” Cosmic Dancer 2.0: Arthur Woods : Space Artist, www.cosmicdancer.com/cosmic_dancer_2.0.php.

“Bonestell - Image Gallery.” Chesley Bonestell, www.bonestell.org/Image-Gallery.aspx.

Levrier, Guy. “The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project    
                 Visioneers, 1996, spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.
Woods, Arthur. “Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods.” The Cosmic Dancer 
                 Sculpture - a Spaceart Intervention on the Mir Space Station by Arthur Woods, 2019,
                 www.cosmicdancer.com/.