Medicine and Art

(2)

To me, this weeks topic was very interesting as Medicine and Art are two subjects that I have always been interested in. I think the thing that is so interesting about it, in particular, is how different people categorize the two subjects, yet how reliant they truly are on one another. For many artists throughout history, knowledge about human anatomy has been absolutely essential. In addition, for those within the medical world and studying medicine, a key component in the accumulation of knowledge of the human anatomy lies in visual images and representations of the muscles, bones, tendons, and internal organs of human beings, often done in the form of drawing and then put in books, such as that of Gray's Anatomy which is currently on its 40th edition. (1)

While Medicine and Art have relied on one another for accuracy and efficiency for a very long time, I found it very interesting to learn about innovative new ways in which medical practices or usages have found their way into art. For instance, Justine Cooper's use of MRI's in her artwork, being the fist to do so but certainly not the last. (3)

(3) Justine Cooper's MRI artwork

I found the idea of using MRIs to exhibit the human brain in an artistic way was very interesting, and found another exhibit done by Paula Crown called Inside my Head: A contemporary Self-ortrait. (4) This exhibit shows a new way in which medicine can aid artists in creating works of art that they would otherwise not be able to, such as a self portrait which shows inside the artists brain. I find it very interesting that over time, even now that artists have already benefited from all of the medical research and direction of human bodies that has made it possible to understand human anatomy, and just as medical schools have long been using art to portray, teach, and learn about the human body; there are still ways in which the two fields are interacting with one another in order to break barriers that never would have been possible otherwise.

Inside my Head: A contemporary Self-Portrait

This week I was particularly intrigued by the lectures as the insight into medicine, art, and their reliance on one another throughout history was incredibly interesting to me. I think, for me, the way that each one not just relied on one another but helped develop one another is what is most astounding to me, especially because people regard the two as so different and disconnected, yet they literally helped create one another, and most certainly helped one another become what they are today.
I was also fascinated with Stelarc and his use of his own body in exhibits. The human body has been a very big part of art for a long time, and nude art in particular is something that was far more popular throughout history than it is today. In many ways, I believe, I was surprised to learn about Stelarc's use of the human body because in many forms of modern art I have not seen the nude human body be used quite as much as it was in the past. I was surprised to see his immersion of the human body and modern technology, as I have truly never seen anything like it. (5)

Works Cited

(1) Lecture Part 1

(2) "Gray’s Anatomy." Science Book a Day. N.p., 08 Dec. 2013. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

(3)Vasini, Silva. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts." (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

(4) "MRI Art Exhibit Captures The Beauty Of The Human Brain | The Creators Project." The Creators Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

(5)"Extended Body: Interview with Stelarc." N.p., n.d. Web.