Event # 3: This Is The End

Designed by Pedro Reyes,"This Is The End" showcases the “Unconventional Narrative Strategies” by the individual artworks of Ed Atkins, Loretta Fahrenholz, Tommy Hartung, in which they address various themes such as trauma, melancholy, surrealism and the uncanny, was a surreal experience. The complexity of the video ultimately looks at the physical and emotional tole that depression has on individuals. Whether it may be mental or external, the interpretations of the narratives of human emotions are at an elaborate point of view. 

One video that really caught my attention was at a repetition of the “thumbs up” motion. A lot of what we learned in this class relates to this narrative of Ed Atkins that helps us look at the “thumbs up” narrative in a new prospective with film and technology. A lot of the times we find that the mixture of art and technology broadening even the simplest of objects and motions into an entirely new form. Ed Atkins uses this very relationship in a way that we all are critically aware of, a relationship that takes the present state of something and transforms it into a message about ethnics, perspectives and values. Just how this class takes a variety a fields and molds it in connection with art, Ed Atkins uses the “thumbs up” narrative and combines it with other mini-narratives about heartbreak, nature, even life. What I got out of the event as a whole was that human emotion is purely a subjective state of mind. Some may think “this is the end”, where as others see or feel a certain emotion as only the beginning. We can only hope that artists such as Ed Atkins, and the rest of the talented individuals in “This is the end” can further showcase the beauty of human emotion through art and technology. 

Event # 2: "Provocations" by Heatherwick Studio

"Provocations" by Heatherwick Studios was an extraordinary event that looks at the everyday household item, and thinks of new “inventive work, that combines novel engineering and new materials and innovative design”. From large architectural project in South Africa, the U.K, Abu Dhabi, to the ceremonial lighting cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Heatherwick Studios imagination is a “diverse body of work that defies easy categorization and eschews any notion of a signature style.” 

Before even entering the exhibit, there were chairs shaped as if they were giant dradles in the middle of the hammer museum.  A lot of people found it amusing, I was one of those people. I soon found out that this very chair was designed by Heatherwick himself. Every artist has an approach and objective. In Heatherwick’s mind, his approach his artwork is similar to what we have learned in class this entire quarter. How innovations must look at all different levels, different scales, even different fields in order to go beyond what the normal human mind and eye perceive of things. We’ve learned that whether its art and technology, art and mathematics, art and science, no matter the combination, it’s the innovation that sticks the relationship together to create a beautiful masterpiece. Heatherwick’s various art pieces illustrates our want and need to connect the various worlds in order to develop and unravel the unknown. For Heatherwick, a lot of his inspiration connects the architectural complexities into most of his artwork. For example the picture above, illustrates the cross interconnection with the artwork’s objective of a citylandscape and of the architectural engineer design. However, when looking at the complexities, we soon realize Heatherwick takes the simplest of designs and molds it in a way that makes our brains think and appreciative of the simpler things in life. The chair for example, something that is needed in an everyday setting, yet we do not appreciate its purpose. Heatherwick, brings those simple household objects back to life.

Event #1: Kathy High Exhibit

As I entered the exhibit, the first thing that caught my eye was a jar filled with an unknown specimen. I didn’t really pay attention to it until I read the letter that was written by the author. “Dear David Bowe, I have a bargain for you…I am a life-long fan…I was hoping these photos might grab your attention for a moment. I want to exchange these for a throw-away item, your poo.” 

From there I didn’t really understand what to expect but that the artist, Kathy High, was a long admirer of David Bowe and reenacted some of his most iconic scenes through photography. After reading the letter and various plaques in the exhibit, I soon was informed that Kathy had Crohn Disease, an inflammatory bowl disease that affects the lining of the digestive system. The artist wanted to conduct a fecal transplantation, by implanting David Bowe’s poop/gut biome into her colon. 

This exhibit is a perfect of example of the connection of art and science. Through Kathy’s artistic capability, she was able to grab the attention of one of her most admired performers to help fight for an important cause. Although she knew this may have been a long shot, asking for someone’s fecal matter, the strong connection of the development of this project helped move forward not only science and art, but Kathy’s life. I really was intrigued by the messages carried out throughout the whole exhibit. How every moment and everything in life is precious. This exhibit really benefited both from art and science by living up the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. The development of art and science, as we learned in this class, symbiotically assist one another to the greatest potential. In this case, Kathy respected and understood the importance of both worlds and how connecting them would further progress everything for the better.