Week 4: Medicine+Technology+Art

The overlap between medicine and art in the form of medical technology applies to society and can be used to prolong and save lives. One such invention is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a scan of the human body used to detect brain tumors, cancer, or other conditions. The image scans convey the medical information. MRI scans definitely tell us a lot scientifically, but it uses artistic aspects to provide these results.

MRI Machine
Before reading Casini’s essay, I never knew an MRI scan included art in every aspect. The sound of the MRI examination is termed “acoustic”, where there is rhythm to the noise (Casini). In addition to sound effects, MRI also has appealing visuals. Within the machine, there is a mirror that “functions as an outside perspective in order to decrease the sense of claustrophobia inside the scanner” (Casini). Through this mirror effect, patients can feel more at ease during the examination. This combination of art and science help create a usable technology in identifying illnesses in a safe environment.




Eduardo Kac implanting microchip into himself
Eduardo Kac’s Time Capsule is an application of art and science, where a microchip is implanted into a human body with an “interactive webscanning of [the] body “(Kac). The human body, in this case, becomes the medium for art to be expressed. The data on the microchip is connected to a database on a computer. Time Capsule is an art piece that demonstrates the future of technology: tracking of animals and people (Uconlineprogram pt3). We use microchips very often now to track prisoners and dogs. Kac implanted the microchip into himself in a gallery similar to that of a medical room to fully encapsulate his concept of biotechnology and art.



Protein Interaction Network
For artists to fully capture the idea of biology in their artwork, they have to dissect the human body to understand what happens at the molecular level: the interaction between molecules. When artists illustrate these biological models, they can be used to determine “the linear-stiffening response of tissues,  living  cells  and  even molecules…to use [the] model to help design advanced materials that have the linear-stiffening property and that may be useful in such applications as protective clothing and artiļ¬cial body parts” (Ingber). The collaboration between artists, scientists and doctors can provide quality health care and improve the standard living in society. 






References
Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts." Configurations. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
Ingber, Donald E. “The Architecture of Life.” Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc. January 1998. 29 Apr. 2017.
Kac, Eduardo. "Time Capsule." Time Capsule. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
Uconlineprogram. "Medicine Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
Uconlineprogram. "Medicine Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.

Images
"150 Years of SAIC." Nothing New? | 150 Years of SAIC. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
Kac, Eduardo. "Time Capsule." Time Capsule. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
"Protein–protein Interaction." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.

Comments

  1. katelyn noelleApril 30, 2017 at 10:42 PM

    Your comment that the human body serves as a medium for art to be expressed is an interesting concept that I did not consider before this week. Regarding the microchip in Kac's Time Capsule, I can't imagine what would be possible if we utilized these achievements in biotechnology artwork to study the body. Finally, your summary of Casini's argument that the MRI incorporates artistic principles (visuals and sounds) in its function helped clarify my understanding of this week's topic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ann BrightMay 2, 2017 at 10:12 PM

    Your discussion on implanting microchips into people to track the body is quite thought provoking, especially with all the possibilities that technology now affords us. While it is interesting to imagine the mapping and artistic functions of microchips within the body, to me it also raises other ethical and political concerns. But, with that being said, I still find it fascinating that many avenues of art are now turning to showing the inside of the human body rather than capturing what the exterior looks like, and technologies like the microchip or MRI machine are in line with this trend.

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