Two Cultures

Space + Art Although only recently has commercial space travel become more accessible, space art has a remarkably long history. Amid astronauts and billionaires, like Jeff Bezos, exploring the wonders of the void above, artists have ventured into exploring what art looks like in the context of the universe.  Jeff Bezos Space Travel When space and art are explored together, the unique components each entity contributes allows for innovative discoveries that could never otherwise be created by either entity on its own. A number of artists have launched their art into space to be appreciated against the infinitely black and vast canvas above. In 1969, artists Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, John Chamberlain, and Claes Oldenburg, all contributed small drawings to a small ceramic art piece titled the Moon Museum (Nunes).  Moon Museum The piece was smuggled onto the Apollo 12 spacecraft and left on the moon by astronauts. More recently, in 2014 Japanese artist Makoto Azuma launch...

Math + Art When the fields of math and art are bridged, they are able to make incredible advancements that could never otherwise be achieved by either field on its own. Although for many it may be hard to imagine that art has anything to contribute to mathematics, it can introduce creative elements to the more analytical discipline that makes for easier understanding of concepts.  Math Meets Art Looking at arithmetic problems through a lens of art allows for numbers to be studied and understood from a completely visual level. Similarly, math has a lot to contribute to the field of art. One of the most impressive aspects of visual art is its ability to capture the depth of reality within the form of a flat canvas.  Perspective The execution of accurate perspective viewpoints that allow for the depiction of three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional planes is realized through geometry formulas. Without these mathematical algorithms, space can appear distorted and the captivati...

Nanotech + Art When the fields of nanotechnology and art are bridged, they are able to make innovative discoveries that could never otherwise be created by either field on its own. In his years of work experimenting and learning how to best maximize the relationship between these two disciplines, Boo Chapple developed a project where audio speakers are made out of bone. Contributing to the shift from emphasis of purely visual culture to one based on sensing and connectivity, he found a way to utilize the piezoelectric nature of the bone matrix to generate a vibration in the bone that produces audible sound.  Uniting science and art, Chapple effectively demonstrated how visualization and creation complement the complexity of atomic and molecular technology.  His work has inspired other artists and entrepreneurs to explore our human capacity to sense. Bone conduction headphones are just one of these innovati...

  Neuroscience + Art When the fields of neuroscience and art are bridged, they are able to create experiences that could never otherwise be created by either field on its own. Although neuroscientists have explored the consciousnesses and biological makeup of the other sentient beings that accompany us on this Earth, the information gathered has largely been confined within academic articles and research papers.  While artists have captured the essence of other sentient beings within paintings and sculptures, the art typically positions the beholder as an observant.  Neither field has truly or effectively approached the philosophical dilemma regarding humans’ ability to embody the experiences of other sentient beings. This experience is critical because it not only gives us a better understanding of the creatures that we share our planet with, but also helps us build a genuine empathy for their well-being. When these two disciplines were united through the Octopus Brainst...

Biotech + Art Human creativity is limitless. From constructing massive pyramids before modern technology, to developing the modern technology to launch rockets into space, humans have proven that we are capable of whatever we set our minds to. In an age of biotechnology, where life itself has become the expressive medium for experimentation and manipulation, we must consider whether or not there should be limits to human creativity. What are the ethical boundaries? In an exploration of life as an art form, Ellen K. Levy contemplates how the production of cyborgs adds to this conversation. Illustration of Brain-machine Interface  Is it ethical to modify an individual's consciousness by the merging of the human body and machine? This called to mind the ethics and responsibility in the development of Elon Musk’s Neuralink.                                     ...