Professor Vesna discussed how medical technologies, such as
surgery, are thousands of years old. While they don’t have the same tools and
procedures we do now, early humans creatively mended injuries. As more and more
medical procedures took place, the human body became more exposed and visually
reproduced.
Body scans such as MRIs an x-rays inspired photographic art
while plastic surgery became a way to beautify or re-beautify the human face
(or body). Doctors who perform these surgeries have to have an artistic touch
to help change a person’s outward image. Their craft is comparable to sculpting.
Medical cognition researcher Virgil Wong uses his scientific
background to develop art and design centered around the human body. His work “generates
personalized 3-D anatomical bodies to visualize health information in the past,
present, and future.”
 |
| An example of Wong's digital body art. |
Artists like Wong use some of the strategies Vesna described to create anatomy exhibits that come to various science museums. I remember a few years back going to “Body Worlds” at the California Science Center. It was really cool to see these layered, 3-D models of the human body in vivid detail. Down to each and every wrinkle and limb, these artists had an unbelievable attention to detail regarding medicine and the human body.
 |
| A human body model from "Body Worlds." |
I also have been to many homes where people hang body art. It’s becoming a popular trend to purchase and display such body art in a home. I like seeing these pictures in homes because it shows tastes in medical technologies and arts all in one frame in a domestic setting.
 |
| Home art for sale. |
References:
Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt1"YouTube, uploaded by UC Online, 21 April 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=778&v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk. Web.
Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt2"YouTube, uploaded by UC Online, 21 April 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=387&v=psjnQarHOqQ. Web.
Vesna, Victoria. "Medicine pt2"YouTube, uploaded by UC Online, 22 April 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1013&v=FIX-9mXd3Y4. Web.
Wong, Virgil. "Bio-Virgil Wong." 2003-Present, http://virgilwong.com/bio/. Web.
"Human Anatomy Wall Art & Canvas Prints" 2019, https://www.greatbigcanvas.com/category/education/science/human-anatomy/. Web.
"Virgil Wong generates personalized 3-D anatomical bodies to visualize health information in the past, present, and future.”... Isn't that really fascinating? Since the art is an unique expression of oneself, the health information of one can be the expression of art!
ReplyDelete