Event #2 I Cosmological Elements #2

 On April 28th, I attended the Cosmological Elements #2 Zoom presentation. The event showcased various exhibitions (presented by various presenters) regarding the cosmos and discussed the idea of cosmological elements through different scientific lenses as well the several space ecologies. 





"Is there life in other galaxies?" ABC Kids Listen. 6 Nov 2018.


The first exhibit was "Exobiotanica" by renowned botanist and flower artist Makoto Azuma, whose project explores the intersection of art, nature, and outer space. In this project, Azuma sends plants and flowers into the Earth's stratosphere using high-altitude balloons and captures stunning photographs and videos of these specimens against the backdrop of the Earth and the vastness of space. By placing these living organisms in an environment devoid of atmospheric pressure and gravity, Azuma aims to challenge our perceptions of nature and the boundaries of life. As Victoria Vesna stated in the "Biotech + Art" lectures, "Artists are no longer just observers; they can engage in the material and conceptual realms of science" (Vesna, Part 2). Here, she emphasizes the fusion of art and biotechnology, blurring the conventional boundaries between the two. This resonates deeply with Makoto Azuma's Exobiotanica, as he employs biotechnological techniques to create botanical sculptures that exceed traditional artistic mediums.






Azuma, Makoto. "Bouquet #6005." Exobiotanica. 


Another exhibit at the event was "The Tapestry of the Search for Terrestrial Intelligence" by Ranjit Bhatnagar. This piece is on display at the Science Gallery in Dublin and examines the exciting search for intelligent life beyond Earth. The artist described that, in 1977, the Voyager space probes were launched, and as a precautionary measure, each probe carried a golden record (a tapestry with sound encoded on it) containing music, sounds, and voices from Earth. These records also contained sounds representing over a hundred digital images. The purpose of including these records was to provide a snapshot of Earth's cultural and scientific knowledge in case the probes were ever encountered by extraterrestrial beings. The records aimed to convey a message of human civilization, showcasing our music, language, and visual representations to potential intelligent life beyond our planet. Part 1 of Vesna's lecture series "Robotics + Art" aligns with this collaboration of human work and robot usage as she states that "Robots can be viewed as co-creators, enabling new possibilities and enhancing artistic expression". Here, she suggests that robots can be seen as partners in the creative process, bringing new possibilities and enhancing artistic expression. Furthermore, she also states that "Our exploration of robotics and artificial intelligence inform our search for extraterrestrial intelligence" (Vesna, Part 3). 





Image of "The Tapestry of the Search for Terrestrial Intelligence" taken during the event. 


Overall, the event was very interesting and I found myself wanting to learn more about the elements that make up our cosmos, as well as these amazing projects which explore concepts related to the topics!



Proof of Attendance: 




Comment Screenshot:


Sources:

Text:

Vesna, Victoria. “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/Robotic Art, Part One.” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=5946326.

Vesna, Victoria. “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/Robotic Art, Part Two” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=5946326.

Vesna, Victoria. “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/Robotic Art, Part Three” Bruinlearn. https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=5946326.


Images: 

ABC Kids Listen. "Is There Life in Other Galaxies?". 6 Nov. 2018. 
https://www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/ideas/imaginethis/is-there-life-in-other-galaxies/10470066.

Azuma, Makoto. "Bouquet #6005." Exobiotanica. http://exobiotanica.com/. 

(The image of "The Tapestry of the Search for Terrestrial Intelligence" was taken as a screenshot from the event)

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