Week 4 Blog

MedTech and Art

As our knowledge of the human body develops, it is becoming more common for artists to use the human body as a muse for their work. Before medical technology was blooming it was a challenge for artist to see realistic images of the human body. However, thanks to advances in medical technology, art is more realistic; human dissection is a big part of learning about human anatomy (Vesna). Cutting apart the body leaves nothing up to the imagination of the artists and creates a platform of truth for artist to expand on. Eve Laramee, an expert on the subject, says, “I try to draw attention to areas of overlap and interconnection between artistic exploration and scientific investigation…” (Laramee). New inventions are often made by this exploration of the body because as we find out more, artist and scientists working together are able to problem solve better than ever.

The Anatomy of the Human Body

There are many more examples of Art and medical technology at work in our world. Often people think of art as pieces of work or still images, but films are also art. The film eXistenZ combines medical technology and art to build futuristic inventions that may have a place in our society one day. Diane Gromala’s Ted Talk highlighted chronic pain and Gromala’s personal experience with it. Medical technology allowed Gromala’s to see and understand what was happening to her. This access to her body through technology set off her desire to create and eventually she combined art and technology to create art that responded to peoples’ senses (Gromala).

The Meat Book by Gromala (Auer)

Virgil Wong combined pregnant males, robots, and advance medical technology as an art project. This project opened up his eyes to the possibilities when art and medical technology combine; he create the Web & Multimedia division for hospitals. Wong said it, “informed and engaged patients will help reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes” (Wong).

 

Movie eXistenZ

References

Auer, Alpha . "January 2009." Not Possible IRL. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.

“Existenz.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Apr. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existenz.

eXistenZ. YouTube, 10 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.

Gromala, Diane. YouTube. YouTube, 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.

“Human Anatomy 3D Futuristic Scan Technology with Xray-like View of Human Body. Male Torso Front Showing Lungs in Blue. Vibrant Colors.On Black.” Shutterstock.com, www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/human-anatomy-3d-futuristic-scan-technology-390203494.

Laramee, Eve . Eve Andree Laramee. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.

Vesna, Victoria . "Medicine + Technology + Art ."  29 Apr. 2018. Lecture.

Wong, Virgil . "Healthcare – Virgil Wong." Virgil Wong. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2018.