Week 7: Neuroscience and Art

Art is valuable to society because of its affect on humans: all art has meaning, objective or subjective. This means that interacts with the minds and senses of humans (i.e. their neurons) - making neuroscience an important part of art. Different stimuli create different effects on humans - and artists use their creative judgement to best display their message. Therefore, all artists are neuroscientists.
Semir Zeki, professor of neuroesthetics at University College London, created this sculpture "Squaring the Circle." Projecting colored lights on the hanging object creates the illusion of depth.
[4] "Squaring the Circle," Semir Zeki, depth illusion

Because of this relation, prominent artists are often involved modern neuroscience research. In the words of Alva Noë, "It is not unusual for leading scientists and distinguished theorists of art to collaborate on papers that find their way into top scientific journals." On the other side, all art stems from the brain - neurons not only receive art, but stimulate to create it. A neuroscientist at University College London, Semir Zeki, states that art is governed by the laws of the brain.
[2] Leif Parsons

Leif Parsons is a New York-based artist who produces many styles of art, including books and comics. What stuck out to me is his focus on the mind in many of his illustrations. He exaggerates the presence of the human brain with abstract art and seems to be aware of the neuroscience-art tie. He also has created children's books, which is another form of science in itself, since children's minds act much differently than adults'.
[5] Michael Tompsett
Perfect examples of neuroscience-art ties are optical illusions. The image above appears to be moving although it is a still image. This kind of art would be impossible without knowledge of neuroscience, and the creation of it helps us understand how the mind works. Neuroscience can be used to create art, and art can be used to help us know more about neuroscience.


References: 


  1. Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 21 May 2017.
  2. Noë, Alva. "Art and the Limits of Neuroscience." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Dec. 2011. Web. 22 May 2017.
  3. Parsons, Leif. "All Art." Leif Parsons. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2017.
  4. Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 22 May 2017.
  5. Tompsett, Michael. "Optical Illusion Pods by Michael Tompsett." Fine Art America. N.p., 2 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 May 2017.

Comments

Post a Comment