Extra Credit #2: Fischer Museum/Century of the Self

As a Bruin, I am quite sorry to say this, but I visited the USC Fischer Exhibit, instead of our own exhibits at the Hammer or Fowler Museum. However, the place itself was quite nice but small; they were holding typing classes in the other rooms, so it was actually sort of noisy. And so, here we are at the entrance of the exhibit with the worker:

The worker and us

As one of five exhibitions that capture the interaction between visual art and language, Alexandra Grant's exhibit Drawn to Language, while beautiful and stunning, really allowed my mind to explore what exactly it was she was trying to say through her art. For art like these, I virtually at first had no idea how to interpret them:

I eventually realized, though, that her art explores the subject of psychology, the unconscious, and the construction of the Self. By utilizing all the different colors and textual quotations shown above, she manages to create these vibrant works of art, which serves to explore how we define who we are, or what the voices populate our unconscious while shaping us. According to the information of the display, many of her sources come from Sophocles' Anigone, texts by Freud and his followers, and also other books that probe the unconscious mind, from surrealism to feminism.

I felt that this exhibit really pertains to what we have studied during this course. In Unit 7, we learned about neuroscience and art, and how for example, artists have explored many ways to try to depict the brain in works of art. For instance, we learned about the Amygdaloid's music video, in which they explore our brain's ability to react in unusual ways when we see. Here, Alexandra Grant is clearly trying not only to show how our brain works through art, but in fact, trying to delve deeper and explore the unconscious. I feel this artwork has such a deep meaning that even now, I have trouble exploring and interpreting exactly what she is trying to tell the viewers.

I would definitely recommend visiting this exhibit, if it is still being displayed. The museum staff are all really nice, and it really is a nice area to be around. However, if you don't feel like venturing onto Trojan territory, you can always just visit the Hammer and the Fowler Museum!

Extra Credit #1: California Space Center

On October 12th, I visited the California Space Center in hopes of finally seeing the spaceship Endeavor in person. I remember the big scene that occurred when they were trying to deliver the shuttle here to LAX: it was first delivered to LAX, and then slowly and carefully transported through the streets of Los Angeles, a process that took over three weeks. I also recollect environmentalists being outraged that they had to cut down trees in order to pass the shuttle through a certain area. Below is a link of the entire process: 

At the ceremony, many guest astronauts presented, and even signed autographs for the guests. Believe it or not, the Oschin Pavilion, which exhibits the orbiter in a horizontal position, is only a temporary display. In the future, with rocket boosters and a fuel tank, it will be displayed vertically, something I really look forward to. I feel like displaying a space shuttle itself is an art, because changing the position of such a technological wonder would really make a difference in how the person views it. Once they actually display it vertically and with more stunning visual effects, a lot more people will definitely come and see it again. This ties back to our discussion on art and science: it is through art and the presentation of objects that science is truly able to maximize its potential. 

Me and my girlfriend at the CSC

At the exhibit, I also felt a dangerous lack of public interest from the younger generations. Seemingly, it was only the old people who actually took the time to read all the explanations and talk to the museum staff about the shuttle. I believe that this lack of interest in sciences was documented in our lecture materials: A Dangerous Divide: The Two Cultures in the 21st Century. Making science relevant to nonscientists and improving public understanding in science has always been a major goal in America. Throughout the exhibit, I really saw the connection between how art and science were connected. Now, I understand completely what the DESMA 9 course is trying to teach us: to explore both cultures with an open mind, and hopefully integrate the two, just like what the California Space Center does. 

The Engine at the CSC

The California Space Center really allowed me to experience one of the things I have been fascinated about: spaceships. These space shuttles are one of the only few things on earth that have ventured into the unknown: space. Also existing as works of art, it really is amazing how much time and effort is put into making these shuttles suitable for flight and for aesthetics. I would definitely recommend visiting the Space Center sometime in the future; not only will you be able to view the Endeavor, but you will also be able to explore countless other exhibits too!

Sources:

Endeavour Space Shuttle Exclusive: A Time Lapse of A Final Ride. Youtube, 18 Oct. 2013. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32yz6EyHgoQ>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Two Cultures-pt2-Stereotypes.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 9 April 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-1-view?module_item_id=970419>. 

Event 3: LACMA

LACMA, one of the must see places in Los Angeles, is almost always symbolized by the white lamps at the front of the museum. However, I went to LACMA not only to take pictures with those lamps, but also to explore the inside of the museum, which is said to contain over 100,000 pieces of art from different cultures throughout the globe. During my visit to the many exhibits at the museum, I realized just how art and science can connect to another, especially in robotics and art.

LACMA ticket

Throughout the quarter, we talked about how art and technology complemented each other. One of the pieces of art that greatly stood out to me was The Golem, otherwise known as "animated anthromorphic beings."

Golem, by Hugo Prag 1915

Although it may appear that this work of art may have no connection to robotics and art, I believe that the author of this painting, Hugo Prag, was trying to suggest the idea of a robot by bringing an inanimate object to life. Ever since the creation of human beings, people have started using their imagination to create supernatural animals. Since then, I believe that artwork and other portrayals of supernatural beings have led to the development and creation of a robot. This artwork demonstrates Professor Vesna's point of how art inspires science, by allowing for the development of a robot. This also exhibits how with the development of technology, people have opted to create the idea of a robot, instead of drawing paintings of imaginary objects. Ultimately, the relationship between art and science works both ways.

I also found the Contemporary Art Exhibit of the museum to be quite interesting, as I noticed how different all the pieces of art were compared to other exhibits. One of the works I found most interesting was Agnes Varda's "My Shack of Cinema," a one-story walk in structure with walls and roofs made out of 35 millimeter film strips.

"My Shack of Cinema"

I thought that her shack really captures the beauty of the outside world in general, but also her passion for filmmaking and life. I believe that Varda's work demonstrates the relationship between nanotechnology and art nowadays, and how artists often combine their works of art with something else that they take great interest in.

One can truly see the connection between technology and art in this museum. I really enjoyed my visit to LACMA, because it is pretty close to UCLA, and there's just an endless amount of exhibits and artworks that you can visit. They offer discounts for students all the time, and you can always take your Facebook profile Picture at the trademark lights! :D

Me at the lights:

Event 2: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

On October 19, my friends and I went to the Natural History Museum as my second event, which unfortunately is located right near USC. We even faced some hostility as we presented our student IDs when the cashier said "We all know who is the better school!" Word of caution: UCLA students at this museum should be prepared for some sneaky remarks from Trojans. Despite this encounter though, I have always been quite interested and intrigued in nature and especially dinosaurs, and so I was very excited for this event! 

In front of the dinosaur!

Our first impression as we walked through each of the exhibits was that even the areas that I had no interest in were full of scientific facts and artistic practices. My favorite portion of the museum was the Gem and Mineral Hall, since it was one of the most beautiful parts of the museum. Here, hundreds upon hundreds of gems were skillfully displayed in a lightly lit room with historical and scientific information. To think that every one of these gems were created naturally from earth really demonstrates how besides the art created by the various forms of technology we learned in this class, art can also be created through natural means. 

Gem and Mineral Exhibit

However, I also spent a great deal of time in the "Becoming Los Angeles" exhibit, which explains L.A.'s 240 year journey from the golden hills of California to the reason Hollywood became the center of the entertainment industry. I felt like the section really pertained to this course because it exhibited the role of robotics and industrialization and how it played a role in the growth and identity of L.A. For instance, in Week 3 of this course, we learned about Henry Ford and his role in making cars relatively cheaper from the common people through the assembly line. I learned through the exhibit that although Ford came up with this idea of the assembly line, it was Hollywood that played a role in promoting cars as a "must have" family item. At the museum, there was a box car for films, in which the directors could shoot the actors while running a movie driving cars in the background. Through the use of films and the box car, Hollywood was able to affect the perception of masses of the American population about affordable cars. 

After experiencing all the different sights and sounds of the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, I realized the importance of Robotics and Art. By merely shooting films on cars, a new era was born in Los Angeles, and therefore establishing Hollywood as the premier center of the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the gallery of minerals also reveals the clash of two cultures as mentioned in lecture 1, because although one would label gems as a product of scientific processes, gems are also works of art. Going to this museum really made me appreciate art a lot more. I would definitely recommend visiting this Natural History Museum to enrich your knowledge of the history of Los Angeles and minerals!

Other photos: 

Ticket to the Museum

My best version of not impressed

Friendly Photographer

Event 1: The Getty Museum

One lazy Sunday during this quarter, my friends and I decided to go to the Getty Museum, since we had never been there before. I would often see the Getty Museum Tram in commission when I was passing by on the 405 South, and so I was definitely looking forward to my experience at the Getty. The first thing we did when we arrived at the Getty by taking the bus from UCLA was to take the tram. Here is a wonderful view of LA from the tram:

Upon arriving at the actual museum, the entire structure was really beautiful and breathtaking, so we all decided to take a picture in front of one of the many galleries.

When we finally did go inside the pavilions after eating lunch, I was actually really surprised at the inclusion of the computer-based search system for the artwork. We could now go to onto the computer on the top floor of one of the galleries, and view what artwork has been preserved and what it actually takes to preserve these pieces of art. This really reminded me about one of the very first lectures, which talked about the intersection between art and science. One of the most important things about technology in art is that it is very hard to preserve artwork without technology. Technology has definitely been used to understand how preservation works and what substances are needed to maintain the integrity of the artist's creation. It is quite amazing to see how museums have moved towards digital databases and catalogs in order to better help viewers understand the artwork.

Furthermore, I was also quite intrigued about pictures taken by a famous Japanese photographer, Kansuke Yamamoto, who was a famous surrealist photographer and a poet in the early 1900s.

I liked these pieces of artwork because I thought they were greatly related to science, although in a weird way. Screws are such an integral part of anything we see today; by combining screws with the beautiful colors of art, this artwork really demonstrated the connection between artwork and technology. Technology has truly influenced art to develop and evolve throughout time.

The Getty Museum is such an amazing place, in that it can capture and hold so many memories, and do it in such an aethestically pleasing manner. If given the time and chance, I would definitely recommend visiting the Getty, and taking pictures of the scenery is a must! After all, pictures are memories!

More photographs:

Space+Art

Space and Art, which is this week's topic, made it quite easy for me to understand the relationship between space and art comparing to other topics that we have discussed before. As Professor Vesna states during the lecture, this topic connects all robot, technology, nanotechnology, and biotechnology into one lecture. The future of space technology has always captivated me, since it was only one hundred years ago that the Wright brothers made flight possible for humans. It is quite amazing how technology has allowed men to traverse previously unexplored boundaries, and at such a fast rate too! 

Wright Brother's First Airplane

Not only has space technology intrigued scientists, but also artists as well, resulting in many works of art, such as the movie E.T. and the Dancing on the Ceiling exhibition. In the movie E.T, artists and scientists alike use their great imaginations and minds to create a story that chronicles the journey of a boy who helps an alien go back home. Watching E.T. no doubt inspired me to become a scientist as a child, and hopefully the movie will continue to inspire many more minds in the future to revolutionize space travel. The thought of space travel becoming a reality is so exciting; space travel has definitely gotten more and more plausible. I can only hope that in the future that I personally will be able to experience space travel. It is due to scientists and artists who have incorporated the creativity of TV/film into works of art that have no doubt propelled space technology itself. 

E.T. Film (1982)

Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity held by EMPAC also embodies artist's and scientist's interest in space, specifically gravity. It is an exhibition in which "contemporary artists explore the condition of weightlessness on earth."In other words, by violating all the traditional artwork that follows the physics of gravity, all the artwork in the exhibition will bring all viewers to a weightless world. This piece of artwork really shows how artists often use science to inspire and formulate new ideas about their projects. 

Dancing On the Ceiling:Art and Zero Gravity

From the examples of E.T. and the exhibition above, we can see that the space age that we are currently living in has fostered so much imagination and creativity. It has virtually allowed for boundless possibilities, and demonstrates how art and space complement each other. A fitting end to the course, I really cannot wait to see how art and space can be even more intertwined in the future. 

 Citations:

“Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity at EMPAC.” Art & Education. N.p.. Web. 30 Nov 2013. <http://www.artandeducation.net/announcement/dancing-on-the-ceiling-art-zero-gravity-at-empac/>.

Goldstein. E.T: The Extra-Terrestial. 1982. New York Film Institute, New York. Derek Winnert. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

NASA. Parts of An Aircraft. 2007. Glenn Research Center, Houston. NASA. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 1. 2012. Film. 30 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2O5C0Iv6ROo#>  

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 5. 2012. Film. 30 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WnSUHMXBmdg#>

Week 8: Nanotechnology and Art

Because I currently work at CNSI as an undergraduate researcher, I can really relate to this week's lecture about nanotechnology. However, even though I am aware of the boundless applications of nanotechnology to medicine, I was quite astonished to find out that nanotechnology can has also led to advancements in art, as seen in the Nano-Scape. 

A beautiful image of California Nanosystems Technology(CNSI) is shown above, and it is home to many of the world's strongest and modern microscopes, including the STEM, cryo-EM, cryo-ET, and AFM microscopes. A link of the Titan Krios microscope constructed by FEI in CNSI and assembled by my research advisor: http://www.eicn.ucla.edu/titanbuildup. 

Massive advancements in medicine has allowed for for massive growth in nanotechnology. One such application can be seen in the research of how nanotechnology from diesel exhaust and damage lung airway cells. As diesel exhaust particles, a major part of urban smog, deliver organic chemicals onto the cilia on our lungs, researching ways to combat this growing problem, especially in suburban areas, could greatly benefit humans. This finding could eventually lead to new therapies for people susceptible to the disease. Shown below are the diesel exhaust particles, consisted of a carbon core and coated with organic chemicals and metals.

Diesel Exhaust Particles

On the other hand, nanotechnology has also paved the way for advancements in art. Through the process of microscopic manipulations, the Nano-Scape, shown below, allows people to experience the nano-world touch by utilizing magnetics. The magnetic field creates constantly shifting forces, which is stimulated by movements from the user's hands that cause all the atoms in the array to interact in a constant readjustment of their proximity to one another. This constant movement allows for users of the Nano-Scape to create an ever "changing invisible sculpture."

Nano-Scape

Professor Gimzewski notes in this week's lecture that one of the most impactful ways of using nanotechnology is through medicine. I agree wholeheartedly with this statement, as most of the time with our bodies, we don't know something is actually wrong with our bodies until we go to the doctor. But at the same time, using nanotechnology for art also allows us to experience art in another dimension and at another scale. 

Citations:

Dawkins, Urszula. "realtime 96." RealTime Arts. N.p., 30 May 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.realtimearts.net/article/96/9816>.

Feinknopf, Brad. Suspended Walkways at CNSI. 2007. Vinoly's CNSI, University of Los Angeles California. The Architect's Newspaper. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Findings on Pollution Damage to Human Airways Could Yield Novel Therapies." - DukeHealth.org. Duke University, 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. 

<http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/findings-on-pollution-damage-to-human-airways-could-yield-novel-therapies?utm_source=dukehealth.org&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS_news>.

"Nanotech Jim pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE>.

Sommerer, Christa . Nano-Scape. 2010. John Curtin Gallery, Australia. Art in the Age of NanoTechnology. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Zhou, Hong. "The building of the Titan Krios | Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines." The building of the Titan Krios | Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines. N.p., 10 Aug. 2006. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.eicn.ucla.edu/titanbuildup>.