Week 4: Medicine + Technology + Art

The human body is always a popular topic among artists from the very beginning of the history of art. Actually, the body itself is a fantastic artwork. The eyes, arms, legs and fingers are all little pieces of art made by nature. These pieces are connected by the muscles and finally form the most incredible art in the world - the human body. Medicine, on the other hand, approaches the human body in a more precise and scientific way. In this case, I am surprised that people seldom related medicine to art when both of them have deep connections with human bodies.

Anatomy is the first attempt that art and medicine come together. In the time of renaissance, artists and doctors worked together to document the human body. Andreas Vesalius, usually considered as the founder of modern human anatomy, published the first reliable human anatomy books in the world, On the Fabric of the Human Body. In 1858, English surgeon Henry Gray published his book Gray's Anatomy which still regarded as one of the most influential anatomy books by artists and scientists. These books enable artists to study the human body better and create accurate human portraits. But the fusion of medicine and art can enlighten things far more than that.

Orlan, a French artist, is a perfect example of the fusion of art and medicine. Orlan underwent 9 plastic surgeries not for her own beauty but in order to examine the true meaning of beauty. She chose some person figure in the classic masterpieces and decided to replicate some part of their bodies. These figures are not chosen because of their beauty or her personal preferences, instead, they were in their place because the histories behind them. For example, Mona Lisa was chosen because Da Vinci hid himself in the portrait of Mona Lisa, causing a question on identity. By using medical methods, Orlan was able to express her idea to  the public.

Medicine, like any other science-related areas, is closely related to art and vice versa. Whether being a reference or a tool to express ideas, medicine is always standing beside the art and helps artists to create better works.

Sources:

"Artiste Transmédia Et Féministe. Météorite Narratif Du BIO ART. Son Oeuvre Questionne Le Statut Du CORPS Dans La Société. Ses Sculptures, HYBRIDATIONS Et Autoportraits Réinterprètent Le Rôle Des Nouvelles Technologies." Artiste Transmédia Et Féministe. Météorite Narratif Du BIO ART. Son Oeuvre Questionne Le Statut Du CORPS Dans La Société. Ses Sculptures, HYBRIDATIONS Et Autoportraits Réinterprètent Le Rôle Des Nouvelles Technologies. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <http://www.orlan.eu/>.

"ORLAN, Omniprésence, 1993. Extrait." YouTube. Ed. Diy Artem. YouTube, 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN1teX2xzh0>. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 1.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 24 April. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. “Medicine and Art: Part 2.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 24 April. 2016.

MutleeIsTheAntiGod. "Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2016. 

 "Andreas Vesalius." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.