Unit 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

The idea of tensegrity

Technology and medicine are often linked together, yet technology was actually only recently integrated into hospitals at the beginning of the twentieth century (Vesna). The incorporation of technology transformed the field of medicine, and has influenced many artists to use the human body as their source of inspiration. Along with the evolution of medicine, our perspective of our own bodies has changed (Vesna). At our basic core, we are made up of atoms, cells, and tissues. Present at essentially every level of our body is this idea of tensegrity, in which our cells and tissues are stabilized by the balance of compression and tension in response to mechanical stress (Ingber). While the networks may shift into various shapes and form, the system still remains intact as one connecting network.

An example of Menezes' "Functional Portraits" 

Similar to the idea of tensegrity, our idea of self-portraits and self-expression has shifted from portrait paintings and photographs to MRIs, blood portraits, and even manipulations of our own bodies. Despite their differences, they each represent a unique way of representing ourselves. 

MRI, which stands for magnetic resonance imaging is a form of technology that has allowed us to look inside the human body in a non-invasive way (Casini). This advancement can capture the brain, an organ that arguably makes us "human" and is responsible for the way we process, think, and feel (Casini). Artist Marta de Menezes creates “Functional Portraits”, where she uses fMRIs to create self-portraits by capturing an image of an active brain when the subject is performing an activity vital to their identity, such as playing the piano if they are a musician. 

Blood drops as a self-portrait 

            In addition to MRI, a major tool that has revolutionized the field of medicine is microscopes (Britten). We are able to see objects at the nanoscale level through electron microscopy. Joan Fontcuberta is an artist that creates self-portraits by magnifying and printing drops of blood from glass slides onto photographic paper. Although red blood cells do not contain DNA, we all possess a specific blood type and our blood carries the essence of ourselves. ORLAN is an artist that performs live surgeries and manipulates her body as a form of self-expression to comment on what it means to be beautiful (Leddy). In a way, her surgeries serve as a self-portrait of physical beauty and demonstrates what she values. As technology continues to develop, it will be interesting to see what new forms of self-expression arises.

Sources: 

Britten, Nick. “Artist uses live cells to created new form of design.” The Telegraph, 15 March 2011, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/8383363/Artist-uses-live-cells-to-create-new-form-of-design.html Accessed 28 April 2018. 

Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait” MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts”. Configurations, vol. 19, no. 1, 2011, pp. 73-99.  

De Menezes, Marta. Functional Portraits. http://martademenezes.com/portfolio/functional-portraits/ Accessed 28 April 2018.  

Fontcuberta, Joan. Hemograms. 1998. http://juanmagonzalez.com/fontcuberta/hemograms.html Accessed 28 April 2018. 

Ingber, Donald. “The Architecture of Life.” Scientific American, January 1998, pp. 48-57.  

Leddy, Siobhan. “At 70, Body Modification Artist ORLAN is still Reinventing Herself.” Art, 7 August 2017. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-70-body-modification-artist-orlan-reinventing Accessed 29 April 2018.

Vesna, Victoria. “Body Medicine intro." YouTube, uploaded by uconlineprogram, 26 March 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEgn-fZQ8po

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine pt2.” YouTube, uploaded by uconlineprogram, 21 April 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psjnQarHOqQ. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine pt3.” YouTube, uploaded by uconlineprogram, 22 April 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4.