Week 4 I Medicine+Technology+Art

 

As someone who has always been fascinated by the intersection of art and science. Growing up, I was always drawn to biology and anatomy, and as I began to explore the world of contemporary art, I was struck by the ways in which artists were incorporating medical technologies into their work. 

Rodríguez Fernández, Clara. These Scientists are Turning the Human Brain into Art. 

LABIOTECH, 2022.

In part 3 of this week's lecture videos, Orlan's (a French artist's) unique approach to art and body modification is explored in depth. Through a series of plastic surgeries, Orlan has transformed her appearance to embody various iconic art historical figures and challenge the societal norms around beauty. Vesna describes Orlan's work as a "theatrical spectacle of surgery," and notes that her performances challenge our assumptions about what it means to be beautiful or desirable (Vesna Part 3). Orlan's decision to use her own body as a canvas is a bold statement against the ways in which women's bodies are often objectified and commodified in our culture. 

Bright, Richard. The Future of the Body with Performance Artist ORLAN. 

Interalia Magazine, 2015

Another artist who has made use of medical technologies is Eduardo Kac. In his project "GFP Bunny," Kac genetically engineered a rabbit to make it glow in the dark under blue light. The project was meant to provoke discussion around genetic manipulation and the ethics of altering the natural world. As Kac said, "If we can make a transgenic organism, we can also make a transgenic society. And I don't want a transgenic society. I want a more humane society" (Kac 121).  

 Kac, Eduardo. GFP Bunny. EKac.Org, 2000. 

Marita Sturken believes that artists have a crucial function in envisioning what the future could hold, by creating tangible representations of both the opportunities and risks we may encounter, and by providing insight and guidance to help us adapt to change. She states that "As technology continues to evolve and expand in its reach, artists are exploring new frontiers in creative expression and investigating the ways in which technology shapes our lives" (Sturken). Nancy Baker Cahill also holds this idea in mind as she also believes that artists are utilizing medical technology to delve into the human body in fresh and original approaches and states "They are creating artworks that use medical imaging technologies like MRI and CT scans to reveal the internal workings of the body and the brain" (Cahill). Furthermore, Katherine J. Koch and Rebecca A. McAteer confer that "Art and medicine have a shared aim of comprehending and portraying the human body. Collaborations between medical professionals and artists can lead to a more profound comprehension of the human body and the development of novel approaches to represent it" (Koch and McAteer). 

Rich, Jared. Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae. 

Electronic Medican Review, 2012. 

The intersection between medical technology and art provides a unique opportunity for artists to explore new frontiers in creative expression and investigate the ways in which technology shapes our lives. Through their works, artists are raising important questions about the human condition and our relationship with technology. As medical technology continues to advance and evolve, it will be exciting to see how artists continue to use it as a medium to create thought-provoking and innovative works of art.

Sources: 

Text

Cahill, Nancy Baker. “How Artists Are Using Medical Technology to Create New Forms of Expression.” Artsy, 6 June 2017, www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artists-using-medical-technology-create-new-forms-expression.

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny, 2000." https://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html. 

Koch, Katherine J., and Rebecca A. McAteer. “Art and Medicine: A Partnership in Education.” Journal of Medical Humanities, June 2013. PubMed Central, doi:10.1007/s10912-013-9219-z.

Sturken, Marita. "Art and the Future of Technology." The Brooklyn Rail, 1 Nov. 2017, https://brooklynrail.org/2017/11/artseen/Art-and-the-Future-of-Technology.

Vesna, Victoria. “Human Bodies and Medical Technologies, Lecture Part 3.” https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=5946331. 

Images

Bright, Richard. "The Future of the Body with Performance Artist ORLAN." 

Interalia Magazine, 2015. https://www.interaliamag.org/blog/the-future-of-the-body-with-performance-artist-orlan/

 Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny". EKac.Org, 2000. https://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html

Rich, Jared. "Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae." Electronic Medican Review, 2012. https://public.med.fsu.edu/emr/2008/fall/art.htm

Rodríguez Fernández, Clara. "These Scientists are Turning the Human Brain into Art." LABIOTECH, 2022. https://www.labiotech.eu/more-news/dima-neuroimaging-neuroaesthetic-project/