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| (Henry Gray's book of anatomy includes a detailed look inside the human body, is still used by artists today and even the inspiration for the title of my favorite show, Grey's Anatomy, an artistic representation of the medical community) |
The symbiotic relationship between art and medicine can be seen clearly in the advancement of the study of art through the medical practices of anatomy dissection, a practice that allowed artists to better understand human proportions and draw the inner body for record. Further, an example of art improving and impeding on the study of science is seen in Diane Gromala's work with virtual reality simulators to heal sufferers of chronic pain. Gromala claims that her art- derived virtual reality simulations that involve the use of visual, auditory, and physical engagement, is just as effective in relieving short term pain as a chemical analgesic, such as tylenol or acetaminophen.
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| (A wave drawn in bacteria on agar) |
As a pre- med student, I was somewhat familiar with Professor Vesna's mentioning of the Human Genome Project and the Human Microbiome Project and the major impacts the two projects have, and will continue to have, on understanding the intricacies of the human body. In particular, my familiarity with the human micro biome comes to mind when on the topic of the relationship between medicine and art. While in a biology lab class in high school I was given the opportunity to make bacteria culture art. Bacteria culture art is the use of living dyed or naturally colored bacteria and agar gel as a medium to create pictures and patterns. Although my art was simple and only consisted of multicolored polka dots made of different species of yeast, there are a group of artists in the scientific community who have created intricate pieces of work that are composed of a wide array of the different types of bacteria that can be found in the human micro biome.
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| (NYC Biome Map, the city grid lines drawn with fluorescent bacteria) |
Similar to my personal experience with the relationship between medicine and art through microbial art, I have also considered the specializations of radiology and plastic surgery after medical school. Conveniently, both specialties were mentioned by Professor Vesna, radiology was brought up in relation to the microscopic and x- ray technology used in the shared histories of art and medicine and plastic surgery was discussed in relation to the artist Orlan and her extreme art showcases that involved the artist being operated on by doctors in costume. Using her body as a medium, classical figures of beauty as inspiration, and social context as commentary, Orlan caused the procedure and final product to both be spectacles of art.
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| (Orland used Boticelli's Venus as inspiration for her plastic surgery reconstruction, a commentary on beauty and gender based societal oppression) |
Works Cited
MailOnline, Victoria Woollaston for. "Microbial Masterpieces! Scientists 'paint' Detailed Works of Art by Growing Bacteria from Human Skin and Even Faeces in Petri Dishes." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 15 Oct. 2015. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3269542/Microbial-masterpieces-Scientists-paint-detailed-works-art-growing-bacteria-petri-dishes.html>.
Orlan – Carnal Art (2001) Documentary. Dir. Stéphan Oriach. Perf. Orlan. N.d. Film. YouTube. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=no_66MGu0Oo>
TEDxTalks. "TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. YouTube, 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdarMz--Pw>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/Ep0M2bOM9Tk.” Lecture. Medicine pt1 . Youtube, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk>.
Vesna, Victoria. “Http://www.youtube.com/v/FIX-9mXd3Y4.” Lecture. Medicine pt3. Youtube, 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4>.
Photos
http://fluong.blogspot.com/2015/10/wtf-fun-factss-bacteria-art-contest-wtf.html
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/475900.Gray_s_Anatomy
http://hyperallergic.com/240951/art-grown-in-a-petri-dish/
http://www.italianrenaissance.org/botticelli-birth-of-venus/
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