Daily Archives: January 12, 2016

Journal #2

Image from Ned Kahn.com

Image from Buster Simpson.net 

Out of an extremely wide field of artists dealing with science and all the myriad questions it raises, I have chose the following two to focus more attention on:

Ned Kahn

Pros 

  • His work connects to me on a primal level, because of its fascination with the elements.
  • His work ranges from calming to exciting.
  • His work resonates on a natural level displayed it displaying nature in a highly controlled, man-fashioned way.

Cons

  • Understanding fluids and waves, which would add a lot to viewer experience, are often defined with complex science and underlying math.
  • Often, his installations function as objects that inspire curiosity and no other direct outcome. While this is valuable, a case could be made against them for the use of resources and labour involved.

Buster Simpson

Pros

  • He creates beautiful, sculptural objects.
  • He  illustrates direct links between parts of nature.
  • There are a few projects that make direct environmental statements.

Cons

  • His ideas are interesting, but usually implemented on a smaller scale than some artists.
  • The science component of his projects is often not terrible complex.
  • His work is certainly striking, but when viewed solely as images his work is not always as unique as other artists I researched.

Journal #1

Image from HuffPost Impact 

A Response to the the introduction of “Art+Science Now” by Steven Wilson

Key Words 

  • Iconoclastic
  • Hybrid
  • “Required literacy [as it applies to the hard sciences]
  • Meta-Narratives

Purpose Statement

The author takes a measured approach to the idea that art and science are complementary, sometimes to the point of making them difficult to distinguish as separate disciplines, while also introducing the idea that this synthesis of fields in not solely a contemporary phenomenon and in fact has historical precedent. 

An easily accessible example figure is Leonardo Da Vinci, though I would argue that one could consider Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Rudolf Steiner, and Albert Schweitzer as both figures of scientific and artistic aspects.    

Points for Consideration 

When one considers important epochs in human history, how many developments were spurred by those who thought and worked as both scientists and artists?

What is the most engaging way to present themes explored by artists and scientists to the public?

Types of Art/Science I Found Most Interesting 

1) James Auger 

2) composing music using brainwaves 

3) microscope use in science

4) post-human theory 

5) performance art and how it could relate to art+science