Art & Nanotechnology

This week, we ventured into the world of nanotechnology and its participation with art. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a molecular or atomic scale. This scale of work is so minuscule that it isn't noticeable by the naked eye, but when put into different fields such as science, technology, and art, it can make a huge difference in the way we perceive things. Nanotechnology is amazing because it is essentially the building blocks of bigger structures.

Dr. Ginzewski described that nanotechnology can be applied to creating new medicines, and treating diseases. Today, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and one of the optional treatments are known as "chemotherapy", which is also known as radiation therapy, and tries to target killing the cancerous nanoparticles in the body. However, this type of therapy attacks both healthy and cancerous cells. At the same time, nanotechnology tries to create protective cells that won't be affected by cancer.

Still, the concept of nanotechnology can be applied to the world of art. Many pieces take a considerably high amount of detail such as Georges Seurat's paintings of parks. If viewed closely with a magnifying glass, you can see the number of paint dabs, or even pixels that were involved in creating the image that we can recognize. For instance, if we just saw the painting for the bottom left half, then all we would see is a lake, but this painting is so much more! The nano-details that were involved in putting this together is beyond my skill, and sanity level.

Nanotechnology brings into perspective just how big our world actually is. It makes us dwell and think about the small pieces that make the big picture come together. Whether it is a solid color, or a gradient like the rainbow, it tells us that there is "more than meets the eye". In retrospect, nanotechnology has a huge potential  for the world of tomorrow. It opens the door to revolutionary ideas by creating a small piece of the big puzzle.

Citations:

"Nanotechnology." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology>.

"Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment." Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.understandingnano.com/cancer-treatment-nanotechnology.html>.

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology." Artabase. N.p., 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

"Ray Kurzweil: A University for the Coming Singularity." TED: Ideas worth Spreading. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_announces_singularity_university.html>.

 "Nanotechnology Explained." - IEEE. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.


Vesna, Victoria. "Nanotech Intro." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.