I have long thought that medical technology and art were not
very related until this week. As I was going through the lectures, what
fascinated me most was the history and use of plastic surgery in art. I didn’t
know that Indian physicians introduced plastic surgery thousands of years ago
and that modern plastic surgery techniques emerged during World War I.
It seems as if war helped drive medical innovations, which would
give rise to some of the most interesting artistic projects that I personally
would not have considered as art before. Though I was initially appalled by French
artist Orlan’s “performances,” which involved her getting plastic surgery, I
realized that the act of facial reconstruction is indeed artistic. Through
these, she demonstrates the “struggle against the innate, the programmed,
nature, DNA – and God,” as if to challenge the conventions of beauty. Professor
Warwick’s project of a mechanical third hand was interesting in its exploration
of extending the human body. Indeed, the body itself can be used as art.
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| The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan |
I watched Bjork’s “All is Full of Love” music video,
released in 1998, and noticed the convergence of plastic surgery with
technology. Namely, CGI was used to reconstruct Bjork’s face on two cyborgs
that engage in love with very sensual overtones.
As I read about the classical Hippocratic oath, I realized
that many of its pledges are anachronistic for modern physicians. However, I
appreciate the high ethical standard it sets for doctors. People like Dr.
Gunther von Hagens created the Body Worlds exhibit to educate people about the
fragility and wonder of the human anatomy. I actually had the pleasure of visiting
its North American debut at the California Science Center in 2010, and I remember
leaving the exhibit inspired to live a healthy life!
Works Cited:
Beram, Sabrina. “An Analysis
of The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan.” Required
Taste, 1 May 2013,
requiredtaste.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-analysis-of-reincarnation-of-saint.html.
“California Science Center
to Open BODY WORLDS: PULSE May 20, 2017.” California
Science Center, 16 May 2017,
californiasciencecenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/california-science-center-to-open-body-worlds-pulse-may-20-2017.
Jeffries, Stuart. “Orlan's
Art of Sex and Surgery.” The Guardian,
Guardian News and Media, 1 July 2009,
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jul/01/orlan-performance-artist-carnal-art.
Rose, Tarryn. “Music Video
Analysis (Bjork - All Is Full of Love).” Tarryn
A2 Media, 12 June 2013,
tarryna2media.blogspot.com/2013/06/music-video-analysis-bjork-all-is-full.html.
Bjork. YouTube, YouTube, 10 Aug. 2010,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjI2J2SQ528.
Johnathan's World. YouTube, YouTube, 22 May 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahCAW6ae-uU.
Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine pt1." Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk.
Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine pt3." Youtube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really cool that you actually got to see the Body Worlds exhibit when it opened! Why was it so memorable to you?
Personally, I think using the body as art is something that is not often considered by the general public, so when an artist displays or manipulates the human body as their artwork, it is perceived with a sense of shock or awe. Rarely do people nowadays pay such detailed attention to their bodies, and I think it is a wonderful service artists are providing by educating the public with their artistic expressions.