Extra Credit Event 1: Pavilion for Japanese Art at LACMA

Being at Los Angeles for four years as an international student, I have not had the chance to visit LACMA, which stands for Los Angeles Country Museum of Art. These days, I had the chance to visit one of its well-known pavilion for Japanese Art. I was amazed by the interaction of modern architecture science and tradition Japanese art.

When I looked at the exterior appearance of the pavilion, it is quite unique, and even idiosyncratic. The pavilion uses expressive shapes, unusual materials and spatially complex interiors. For example. the exterior walls are made of translucent fiberglass panels designed to resemble traditional Japanese rice paper shoji screens. I looked up online for the use of such materials. What I learned from the Internet is that the panels filter the sunlight allowing artwork to be sagely illuminated by soft natural light. I am surprised by the outstanding functionality of materials used by the help of material science.

 When I walked in, I can see the interaction of modern structure and traditional art. The interior displaying area is incredibly spacious.  The architect uses multi-story spiral gallery. The walls are ground are carpeted, providing a elegant and peaceful environment. Artworks like folding screenings, ancient masks, and samurai("warrior") armor tells the story of Japanese history.

The display artworks draws my attention as well. For example, I am particularly interested in the samurai armor. The samurai class is a mid-level group of people who mainly serve for royal family. With the introduction of gunpowder, they no longer remain important as a significant class in Japanese society. This samurai armor is made of mainly iron and copper alloys, with the dressing of leather.

I am a really pleasant and interesting trip at pavilion of Japanese Art, where modern science and traditional art merges. This trip broadens my eyesight with the introduction of architecture and art.

Picture in front of Pavilion of Japanese Art!

Event 3 Blog: Artisan Independent Experimental Scent Fair

On May 7th, I went to the Scent Fait hosted in Hammer Museum. It consists of an exhibition and workshops by an international selection of cutting-edge fragrance makers. It is a fresh and new experience for me because I would hardly think of the process of making perfumes, not to mention the stories behind those perfumes.

When I walk into the exhibition area, I can already see there are people all around different display areas. It is interesting that every exhibitor has their signature perfumes with their own characteristics. For example, there is one exhibitor combines musics and perfumes: various scents with corresponding music genres. Another exhibitor was introducing the different spices and fruits she uses to make the fragrance.

The most impressive perfume showcase is the one that combines music and perfume. At first, I was attracted by the headphones and cassette-like packing of perfumes. The exhibitor, Sarai introduced to me her mind on making perfumes. She said perfumes are inspired by songs. Each of perfume is translated through beats, rhythm, harmony, lyrics and tempos. Her intention is to connect two invisible medium that illicit raw emotions within a person. embracing the multiplicity of the senses.

It is a very novel impression for me to smell the perfume and listen to the music at the same time. From my perspective, music definitely helps the understanding and stimulate the olfactory sensation during such unique experience. The specific the of perfume I tried has the name: Neon Graffiti. It has a bursting zesty citrus notes blending with a lush, green leaf accord and the spiciness of cardamom and fresh mint.  Along with perfume, "Sunshowers" by M.I.A inspires that Sarai to make this Neon Graffiti. The clear drumbeats in Sunshowers along with her exotic and sneering vocal. 

It is a unique experience for me to visit the scent fair. I had a close look on artists' perfume-making process. It is also pleasant to talk to Sarai about her creative idea on combining music and perfume.

Such a combination stimulates both olfactory and auditory.

Picture with Jazmin Sarai, the perfume maker.

Me smelling the perfume and listening to the music.

Week 9: Space+Art

This week we learn about the space where spectrums of different topics in art and science converges. For example, Nanotechnology, mathematics and biotechnology are widely applied in this area. Back in the middle school, students like us were taught how giant and obsolete the universe. It is quite intuitive for us to understand the large scale--light year uses as a distance measurement in the video "Powers of Ten".

When we talk about astronomy and space, the first pioneer and avant-garde that builds the correct system is Nicolaus Copernicus. He formulates a model of the universe that placed the sun rather than the Earth. Fearing his work might shake the ruing of church, Copernicus published his book: On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres  just before his death. Copernicus's achievements are remarkable. He made observations and calculations needed to start scientific revolution. His successors like Tycho Brahe and Galileo Galilei.

Professor Vesna also talks about government and private company's effort in the exploration of space.
The most interesting case is the drastic competition between Soviet Union and United States during Cold War. It is a famous arms race. On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin took Vostok I spacecraft to enter the outer space. This is quite inspiration not only to the people in Soviet Union at that time but around the world. As a Chinese student myself, I still remember the time when China sent the first astronomer into the space. All the major medias are reporting such great achievement. Liwei, I still remember the first Chinese astronomer's name.

Nowadays, SpaceX is the representative among those private companies that devote to making space travel affordable. I started to pay attention to SpaceX because of its cofounder Elon Mask. He is a CEO with extraordinary charisma: determined and forward-looking. SpaceX has successfully realized the first stage of rocket reuse program using Falcon 9. SpaceX believes a full and rapidly reusable rocket is the "pivotal breakthrough needed to substantially reduce the cost of space access." They have made great strides toward this goal.

Citation:

[1] "Nicolaus Copernicus." Famous Scientists. Web. 29 May 2016.

[2] Friedman, George. "Geopolitical Futures." Geopolitical Futures. Web. 29 May 2016.

[3] Mask, Elon. "Reusability: The Key to Making Human Life Multi-Planetary." SpaceX. Web. 29 May 2016.

[4] Marlow. "An Eames Office Website." Powers of Ten Blog. Web. 29 May 2016.

[5] "SpaceX." SpaceX NASA. Web. 29 May 2016.

[6] "Arms Race." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 29 May 2016.

[7] Uconlineprogram. "Space Pt5." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 29 May 2016.

[8] Uconlineprogram. "8 Space Pt1 1280x720." YouTube. YouTube, 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Week 8: Nanotech+Art

This week we learned about the nano-technology from the lecture given by Dr. Gimzewski. Nano-technology opened a new world for people. In both philosophical and visual sense, "seeing is believing does not apply to nanotechnology, "for there is nothing even remotely visible to create proof of existence". In Feynman's famous talk, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom",  he put up with the idea of small scale, later having the name of "nano". Nowadays, nanotechnology has developed into a new science with broad applications in real life.

Back in the middle school, I have seen the manipulation of atoms as a application of nanotechnology. At that time, I did not know what technology is behind such manipulation. According to the introduction of Dr. Gimzewskin, it is accomplished by STM: scanning tunneling microscope. It allows "not only to structure and modify matter on the atomic scale, but also grants access to basic physical properties of such artificial nano-structures".

There is another aspect of nanotechnology that left me with deep impression, that is, its broad application. Some of its application has been applied to our real life. Dr. Gimzewski introduced the hydrophobic property of lotus leaf. Lotus leaf have surfaces consists of nano-scale bumps. Water would not be able to stay on lotus leaf surface. People invent the self-cleaning fabrics based on such property. 

Nanotechnology can be applied to art as well. An extraordinary example existed in nature has inspired us with such possibility. Blue morphos, a kind of butterfly with iridescent metallic blue wings, has nano-structures that reflect this bright blue color in wings. Such light reflection is much effective than any pigment. Scientist and artists have inspiration from blue morphos. 

From Dr. Gimzewski introduction of nanotechnology, I am shocked how wide this small scale technology is applied. To end with physicist Feynman's words, "There's plenty of room at the bottom.

Citation:

[1] Feynman, Richard P. "There's plenty of room at the bottom." Engineering and science 23.5 (1960): 22-36.

[2] Ben, Eli. "Self-cleaning Nano-clothes on the Way." Infolikescom RSS. Web. 22 May 2016.

[3] Bunlert, Aekkasit. "Down-Sizing at IBM." Web. 

[4] "Technische Universität München." TUM E20: Atomic Manipulation. Web. 22 May 2016. 

[5] Sambles, Roy, and Jacopo Bertolotti. "Wing Scales Diffract and Scatter Light: Morpho Butterflies." AskNature. Ed. Peter Vukusic. Web. 22 May 2016.

[6] "Classical Mechanics." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 22 May 2016.

 [7] "Morpho Menelaus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 22 May 2016. 

 [8] Uconlineprogram. "Nanotech Jim Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 22 May 2016. 

 

Event 2 Blog: Art|Sci Exhibition: Drone Sweet Drone

On May 5th, I had the chance to attend a gallery exhibition hosted by Anne Niemetz about an embroidered drone swarm. By referencing "home sweet home"(an expression that was popular with troops on both sides the American civil war), this exhibition asked the audience to consider the ordinary and extraordinary ways that drones affect our daily life.

In current literature and the popular press, drones are mostly associated with unmanned attacks on civilians and the surveillance of populations. However, a normalization of drone technology is taking place. Around the world, many technology lovers, hackers and makers are playing with drones with simpler structure and functionality other than military versions.

As a technology lover myself, I have seen drones that are designed for fun. When I walked in the exhibition room, I was amazed by the aesthetic art installation. There are no actual drones displayed. As embroidered blueprints using Arduino powered lights, the aesthetic of the drones combines techniques associated with the past and the future; art and science; the amateur and the professional.

The pictures above give a closer look of the artworks. The Arduino powered lights are distributed around the circular wings. They flash in a timely order, creating a impression mimicking the spinning of vane. The blueprint text prompts us to further consider the potential of drones, as well as the gendering of new technologies. From my perspective, the text might raise some discussion on interaction between human and machine, or even artificial intelligence.

Besides the embroidered blueprints on the wall, there are also booklets and TV showing Anne Niemetz's other multi-sensory work. For example, the interactive installation of a ball charged with low voltages. This giant energized yet low-voltages ball would form lighting-like beam. 

This exhibition inspires us to think about the ordinary and extraordinary ways that drones affect our everyday lives, moreover, the interaction between human and technology products. Technology products reflect people's consciousness, connect future and past, and moreover, combine art and science. 

Photo with Embroidered Blueprints of Drones!

Week 7: Neuroscience & Art

After looking at the interaction between body and art, this week professor Vesna leads us through the relationship between art and consciousness. "Despite the intricacy and complexity, its (neuroscience's) substance and technical details, neuroscience research engages the interest and curiosity of the general public". Actually, it is not only the general public, artists have always "been fascinated with the idea of mind".

I was amazed by artists's visualization of neurons, which is an electrically excitable cell that process and transmits information. They are creating masterpieces with the combination of technology and art. Artist Suzanne Anker and neuroscientist Giovanni Frazzetto have started a project that trigger my particular interest. Their fascinating and elegant "The Butterfly in the Brain" uses three-dimensional Rorschach inkblot, brain scans and images of butterfly wings to "explore the imagery of symmetric structure of brains".  Suzanne Anker creates this kind of "nuanced variation that gives the audience a subtle optical illusion even though the butterflies are identical.

In part II of professor Vesna's lecture, she talked about unconscious mind and dreams. She introduced that there are 95% percent of the dreams is forgotten. Significant scientists like Freud have made their  enormous contributions to the research of unconscious mind. Talking about dreams and people's concern about dreams, I come up with a famous movie called "Inception". In inception, director Norlan explored "the idea of people sharing a dream space" and the ability to access somebody's unconscious mind. The movie is intertwined between reality and dream space, showing the mysterious and intricate level of unconscious mind. It is a great resource for general public, including me to have time thinking about our own dreams.

In the video lecture, I also learned about the neuro-chemicals like cocaine and LSD that participates in neural activity. Actually, I have the chance to know about LSD on my statistics class about experiment design. I read about statisticians's experiments on subjects using LSD. Statisticians want to test the effect of LSD on physical performances like running and jogging. It turns out LSD have a significantly negative effect on subjects moving ability, not to mention physical performances. I understand scientists' effort of exploring neuro-chemical on brains and consciousness. Sometimes the result might be horrible and get out of control.



Citations:
[1] Benedict, Campbell. "5min Tutorial on Brain Science - ChaLearn Connectomics Challenges." 5min Tutorial on Brain Science - ChaLearn Connectomics Challenges. Web. 16 May 2016.

[2]Christopher, Bergland. "The Neurochemicals of Happiness." Psychology Today. Web. 16 May 2016.

[3]Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Neuroculture." Nature Reviews Neuroscience Nat Rev Neurosci 10.11 (2009): 815-21. Web.

[4]Regine. "BRAINWAVE: Common Senses." We Make Money Not Art. 2008. Web. 16 May 2016.

[5]"Inception." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 May 2016.

[6]"Neuron." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 May 2016.

[7]"Ran 4.3 Miles on Acid, Lsd Today. Exercise While Tripping? • /r/Drugs." Reddit. Web. 16 May 2016.

[8]Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 2).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xlg5wXHWZNI>

[9]Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. “Conscious / Memory (Part 3).” 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E5EX75xoBJ0>

Week 6: Biotechnology & Art

This week professor Vesna talks about interaction between biotechnology and art. Back in high school, students like me have learned in biology course the beautiful and mysterious double helix structure of DNA developed by professor James Watson. To some extent, the double helix structure of DNA reveals both the biological and aesthetic meaning of human life. This relationship has always been intriguing to general public yet sometimes cause intense and heated discussion.

One thing that draws my interest in professor Vesna's lecture is Joe Davis's idea of creating information gene and send these message to extraterrestrials. For the gene, Joe Davis chose Microvenus, an "artistic work constructed from synthetic molecules of DNA". Microvenus contains "a coded visual icon representing the external female genitalia". Such gene carries human's information has the task of exploration the ultimate form of art, that is life existing in universe.

        

Another famous example is Dolly, which was a female domestic sheep. Dolly is the first mammal coned from an adult somatic cell, using the process of nuclear transfer. The birth of Dolly is quite inspirational, showing human's ability on transforming the nature. People are capable of cloning mammal's using the cutting-edge biotechnology, moreover, they can even transform on the existing live matters in nature. 

However, biotechnology are also causing debates around the world. The general public are taking about the ethics experimenting on living animals. Also, people are talking about the possible detriment on people's health. Dolly's relatively early death--prompted by a progressive ling infection, which followed bouts with arthritis and obesity--"is sure to be a sobering reminder for cloning researchers of how complex and poor understood the process remains." Controversy  and shock also arise when artists are experimenting on themselves to explore the possibility of biotechnology. For instance, Orlan tried to create a coat made from an assemblage of skin pieces from different colors. 

Biotechnology has had significant improvements through the years, while due to its special research area, causing concern at the same time. It is still under exploration to reach a balance on both moral and technological side.

Citation:

 "DNA Double Helix." DNA Double Helix. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 Mestel, Rosie. "Dolly's Death Resurrects Debate on Cloning Ethics." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2003. Web. 08 May 2016.

"Microvenus: Joe Davis : Genetics and Culture." Microvenus: Joe Davis : Genetics and Culture. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 Vesna, Vicictoria. "Biotechnology and Art." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 "Dolly (sheep)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 UCtelevision. "Animal Biotechnology." YouTube. YouTube, 2008. Web. 08 May 2016.