NanoTech + Art

Dealing with the Two Cultures entails a continuous effort in trying to radically change underlying beliefs or theories of our society. Depending on the different sciences and arts involved, this quest for a paradigm shift is carried out at different rates. While focusing on this week’s lectures, I realized why nanotechnologies represent “what is going to push over the edge into the future” [1]. Nanotechnologies are stimulating scientific innovations able to walk us into a “new generation of materials that are stronger, smaller, cleaner, and smarter than anything we've ever seen” [2]. 

Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Although the domain that comes with nanotechnologies might seem out of reach and complicated, “nanotechnology is more common than one may think - from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, nanotechnology is already all around us, we simply are not aware of it” [3]. 

Nanomandala 

Aside from nanotechnology’s presence in our every day lives, its applications in the world of arts are as remarkable, as they represent the latest attempt to bridge the Two Cultures. In the context of the artistic applications of nanotechnologies, I was particularly struck by Victoria Vesna’s and James Gimszewkski’s Nanomandala [4]. Nanomandala consists of a 15min video projected onto a disk of sand, 8 feet in diameter. Visitors touch the sand as oscillating images of the molecular structure of a single grain of sand obtained via a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These images are projected to reveal the recognizable image of the complete mandala, and then back again. This coming together of art, science and technology is a modern interpretation of an ancient tradition that consecrates the planet and its inhabitants to bring about purification and healing.

Possibly the Third Culture

This installation was a further proof that Nanoscale Science and Media 

Art are powerful synergies that can promulgate the 21st century emergence of a new Third Culture, “embracing biologically inspired shifts, new aesthetics and definitions” [5]. 

References: 

[1] Vesna, Victoria. “Introduction.” Nanotechnology and Art. May 2022, Los Angeles, UCLA. 

[2] Pogue, David. “Nova: Making Things Smaller.” PBS. January 26, 2011.

[3] Gimzewski, James K. “Part 6.” Nanotechnology and Art. May 2022, Los Angeles, UCLA. 

[4] J. Gimzewski and V. Vesna. Nanomandala. Department of Design|Media Arts, November 16, 2004.

[5] J. Gimzewski and V. Vesna. “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of new science.” Technoetic Arts, vol.1, pp.2-17, 2003.