Das Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

Yurchanka, Siarhei. Nanotechnology, 2020, www.openaccessgovernment.org/nanotechnology-work-related-aspects/83480/.

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        Nanotechnology seems to be a very out-of-this-world and advanced idea, something reserved for Marvel movies like Antman and never quite within reach of the general public, but upon further investigation, I was thoroughly surprised to discover the presence of this week’s topic in anything from sunscreen, containing two common types of nanoparticles that block out UV radiation whilst feeling light on the skin, to clothing, containing particles of silica that can act as a repellent of liquid on the cloth material (Marr). As stated in lecture, Norio Taniguchi at the Tokyo University of Science coined the term “nanotechnology” in 1974, and since then, the concept has made great strides in many different aspects of our lives (Gimzewski). 

Vesna, Victoria and Gimzewski, James. "Victoria Vesna and James Gimzewski - Zero@wavefunction, Responsive Environment/ Nano Art, 2001." Youtube, uploaded by MediaArtTube, 21 Sep. 2009,

Textiles, sun protection, and Marvel movies aside, nanotechnology has found its way into art in an impressive way. An example of this exists in Cris Orfescu’s use of tunneling microscopes and landscapes, grounded in the intersection of nanotechnology and art, or as he likes to call his work, “nanoart” (Feder). Another exploration of unity in these two realms is in color, specifically in regards to stained glass. The color in these detailed and fragile pieces is actually formed by trapping different shades of nanoparticles inside a small area in an effort to create a hue (“From Nanotech to Nanoscience”). Another interesting fact in regards to this concept is that the colors often give you a shade you weren’t anticipating, such as how gold nanoparticles create red stained glass. Personally, I believe this medium is a beautiful harmony between science and art, producing a beautiful product through the most unexpected of helpers: nanotechnology.

Brodhead, Andrew. Stanford Memorial Church, 16 Nov. 2021, news.stanford.edu/report/2021/11/22/stanford-memorial-church-stained-glass-returned-original-beauty-vandalization/.


All in all, this course focuses heavily on worlds like nanotechnology and art blurring together; phenomena that seems unlikely and unprecedented. But, as stated best by our own Professor Vesna, “...As common technologies are being used in arts, sciences and practically all disciplines, borders are becoming increasingly indiscernible, and we have to be more conscious than ever of the metaphors being generated. The barriers between disciplines and people in them are more or less psychological” (Vesna). When challenging those psychological barriers, a new world of creation is unlocked.

SOURCES:

Feder, Barnaby J. "The Art of Nanotech." Bits: The Art of Nanotech. The New York Times, 25 Jan. 2008. Web. 21 May 2016. <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/>. 

“From Nanotech to Nanoscience.” Science History Institute, 22 June 2008, www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/from-nanotech-to-nanoscience.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Jim Gimzewski: Nanotech Art." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 10 May 2022. <https://youtu.be/q7jM6-iqzzE>.

Marr, Bernard. “7 Amazing Everyday Examples of Nanotechnology in Action.” Forbes, www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2020/07/03/7-amazing-everyday-examples-of-nanotechnology-in-action/?sh=2ade40063e82. Accessed 19 May 2022.

New Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm>.


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