Week 4: MedTech + Art

This week’s topic was the most interesting one for me among all the previous ones. I’m studying electrical engineering at UCLA and I’ve been always specifically interested in medical devices or gadgets. So, integration of technology and medicine was something I was pretty familiar with, but I had never thought of the place of art in all this. To have a look at the future of medical technologies, the following video provides a good list on the trends that will probably shape the coming years in healthcare. You can notice the role of art in each of the designs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Lovgwmtuc

As Professor Vesna explained, art and artists have been inspired by the study of medicine, particularly human body, from early times. Advancements in imaging technologies and development of medical databases in recent years, however, have made it easier for artists to explore the anatomy of human body. In her article, Silvia Casini  investigates the use of MRI in the scientific laboratory and in several artworks, and draw similarities between MRI images and human portraits. 

The Ruskin School of Art offers courses to those who wish to study human anatomy with highly 

regarded artists ; 
http://www.rsa.ox.ac.uk/study/short-courses/human-anatomy

However, I was amazed to learn that medical technologies and procedures have also been a great source of inspiration to the artists. As an example, the French sculptor and body artist, Mireille Suzanne Francette Porte or Orlan, has used plastic surgery operations on herself to reflect on the concept of beauty. This way, she expresses her stance against historical stereotypes of female beauty. 

At each surgery, one element of her face is transformed to resemble that of a famous work of art, for example, Leonardo' da 

Vinci's Mona Lisa; 

http://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2013/june/19/body-artist-orlan-sues-lady-gaga/

Another interesting exhibition which has incorporated medicine and medical technologies is at The Science Center Berlin. In its interactive installations, visitors learn about the complex movement of the body. They can for example look underneath their skin and see which arm muscles are tightened during certain movements. 

The Science Center Berlin| The white aluminum facade is modeled after the structure of muscle fibers, and the focus of its exhibition is on walking and grasping, as a central feature of human development; 
https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/de/museen/ottobock-science-center-berlin/

Sources

1. "Body Artist Orlan Sues Lady Gaga | Art | Agenda." Phaidon. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017. <http://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2013/june/19/body-artist-orlan-sues-lady-gaga/>.

2. Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as mirror and portrait: MRI configurations between science and the arts." Configurations 19.1 (2011): 73-99.

3. "Ottobock Science Center Berlin." Museumsportal Berlin. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017. <https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/de/museen/ottobock-science-center-berlin/>.

4. The Ruskin School of Art - Human Anatomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017. <http://www.rsa.ox.ac.uk/study/short-courses/human-anatomy>.

5. "The 10 Most Exciting Technologies Shaping The Far Future Of Medicine! - The Medical Futurist." YouTube. N.p., 27 May 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Lovgwmtuc>.

6. Vesna, Victoria. “MedTech and Art.” DESMA 9. Lecture.