Event 1- Atmosphere of Sound

                                              

On April 27, I visited the “Atmosphere of Sound: Sonic Art in Times of Climate Disruption” exhibit at UCLA Fowler Museum. Here is my proof of attendance with photos showing the main installation and exhibit signage. The exhibit combined art and science, using sound and visual forms to help us think about climate change in new ways.



                                        
One piece looked like musical strings stretched out, while another below it showed root-like threads spreading across a canvas. These reminded me of C.P. Snow’s idea of “two cultures”, science and art, which often feel separate but can create something new when combined. The exhibit made me realize how sound and vibration connect everything, not just people, but also nature and technology. The installation also made me think of Walter Benjamin’s idea that new technology changes how we experience art, making it more accessible and political.


Seeing this exhibit helped me understand how art can make science and climate issues feel more real. I would recommend this event to classmates because it shows how creativity, science, and technology can work together to inspire change. 

                      

                                  

This event will influence my approach to the midterm project by making me incorporate multisensory elements and think critically about how form and content can work together to address issues like climate change. I highly recommend this exhibition to classmates interested in the intersection of art, science, and activism. It offers a powerful example of how creative expression inspires collective action.



References:
Snow, C.P. "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution." 
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."

LaBelle, Brandon. Acoustic Territories: Sound Culture and Everyday Life. Continuum, 2010.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 6 - BioTech + Art

Image
In a world where science and art increasingly overlap, biotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool and canvas for creative expression. Artists like Eduardo Kac have pushed boundaries, blending human DNA with plant life to create living, hybrid artworks such as the Edunia , a petunia whose veins express Kac’s own blood-derived genes. These bio-art projects invite us to question the limits of biology and the ethics of genetic modification, while also celebrating the beauty that can arise from scientific innovation. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not just the domain of artists. The creation of blue roses by Suntory, achieved by inserting genes from pansies to produce the rare blue pigment, demonstrates how biotechnology can alter nature for aesthetic and commercial purposes. These advancements are not without controversy. The public remains deeply divided over the safety and ethics of GM foods, with concerns about long-term health effects and ecological consequences. Despite ...
Read more

Week 9 - Space + Art

Image
This week, we looked at how space and art connect. The quote from Benoit Mandelbrot about how clouds aren’t perfect spheres, or mountains aren’t perfect cones, reminds us that nature is full of surprises and details. In the same way, art and science both help us see the world in new ways. One of the most interesting things we watched was the Powers of Ten film and website. It shows what happens when you zoom way out into space and then zoom way in to see the tiny things around us. This helps us understand how big or small things really are, and it’s a great example of how art can help us see science in a different light. We also read about projects like Makrolab, led by artist Marko Peljhan, where artists and scientists work together in special places to create new kinds of art. These projects show how art and science can mix to make something exciting and new. Other readings, like Arctic Perspectives and articles from Leonardo Space Arts, talk about how artists use really tough or...
Read more

Event 3 - Discussion with Luke Shannon

Image
Attending the Zoom discussion with Luke Shannon for DESMA 9 was an inspiring dive into the intersection of art, science, and technology. Shannon, a contemporary artist, is known for his generative art practice, which merges hyper-specific code with the unpredictability of chance to create unique visual experiences .  He talked about how he uses computer code to make digital images, and then sometimes turns those images into real objects, like laser-cut paper pieces and CNC-milled chairs. One thing that stood out was how Shannon focuses on both rules and randomness in his work. He showed us a piece with red circles that were generated by an algorithm, but with random elements that made each one unique. He explained that he likes to see what happens when he lets the computer make some decisions, even if it means there are mistakes or surprises Shannon also shared a project about chairs. He used code to create many different chair designs—some that could actually be built, and some t...
Read more