Silvia Casini in the article “Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Confrigurations between Science and the
Arts,” investigates the concept of MRI as an art, and idea that MRI shares the
same look that a portrait has. I thought this was a really interesting concept,
and began picturing what it would actually look like. I researched this concept
of MRI as a performativity portrait, and came across a website and art gallery
by Nick Veasey. Nick is an artist who seeks to inspire viewers to look past
surface level appearances. He challenges the mainstream obsession of external
imagines by creatively and artistically revealing our inner beauty through
x-ray portraits.
(Photo by Nick Veasey)
(Photo by Nick Veasey)
This past week I went to the Art/Science exhibition “Waste
Matters: You Are My Future,” by Kathy High. Kathy is an artist who also
specializes in technology, science, and medicine/biology. As a Sociology major,
this exhibit was like nothing I have ever experienced. Kathy has Crohn’s
disease, and has investigated the idea of fecal transplants to help with the
disease. The exhibit that I attended displayed some of her art portraits, and
more shockingly, her “shit” was literally on display. Fecal transplant research
continues to develop and grow as scientists continue to explore the possibility
of fecal bacteria as being beneficial to some individuals. I thought that
Kathy’s ability to expose this new medical field to viewers in an artistic and
unique way was not only informative but also very creative.
The most profound resource I found from this weeks class was
from the video, “Medical Avatar.” The “Medical Avatar,” founded by medical
experts at Cornell University, is a 3D, easy to understand, virtual picture of
your health that can be accessed through your phone, or computer. Basically,
the “Medical Avatar,” takes all your health records and converts them into an
interactive tool in which you and your doctor can access and examine all current
health problems, past health issues, as well as potential future health
concerns. This video blew my mind with not only how advanced the medical field
is, but also it’s groundbreaking ability to connect with people in a creative
and interactive way like the “Medical Avatar” does.
Casini, Silvia. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as
Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the
Arts." Configurations 19.1 (2011): 73-99. Web.
Wong, Virgil. "Introducing The Medical
Avatar." Virgil Wong. N.p., 24 Apr. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Veasey, Nick. "GUNS
'N' ROSES X-RAY NICK VEASEY EXHIBITS IN PARIS." Web log post. Nick
Veasey. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
High, Kathy.
""Waste Matters: You Are My Future"" UCLA Art | Sci
Center + Lab. UCLA Art | Sci Center, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Research Projects." The
Fecal Transplant Foundation. FMT, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed looking through Nick Veasey's gallery, and am glad you brought him up in your post, because like you, I also find it really interesting that MRI could also be used as art. I have been working in a radiology office for the past three years, and while I always found looking at x-rays and MRI scans fascinating and sort of beautiful, it never occurred to me before this week that artists have been utilizing them as works of art. It makes so much sense, and allows us to see beauty where we normally would not look.
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in using a MRI and making it into this form of art. I feel you can find dozens of things being contextualized into something artistic, and by far think that when it comes to things in the medical field being turned into art it is always really fascinating. Due to the dynamic of the two.
Hello Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI believe you made a good point at listing the various artist and how their view of medical work lead to artistic values. You used this idea through the example of the MRI. This brought up a interesting question to me, how many thing in our life do we go by without thinking it has an artistic value to it?
Your representation of medicine and art has brought up a unique idea of the concept of medicine and art.
This was a well written blog and has brought up good points.
-Gabrielle