WEEK 4: MedTech + Art

This week’s material showed me how advances in medical technologies, specifically in plastic surgery and prosthetics, are not only used to improve human appearance and anatomical functionality but also by artists to create unique, thought-provoking performances.

As Vesna discussed in her lecture, plastic surgery has evolved through war as physicians had to treat many soldiers’ facial and head injuries. While this type of surgery is seen in shows such as Nip Tuck and Botched, it is also used by artists, such as Orlan. Orlan's body performance art is a “critique on beauty” and how cosmetic surgically is typically used. The advancements of med tech here allowed Orlan to explore her artistic abilities and makes viewers question beauty ideals.

Orlan in one of her body performances; photo taken from v2.nl site

Similarly, other advances in med tech, such as MRIs and X-Rays have enabled us to see into the human body and better understand how it functions. As our understanding grows, we are then able to better replicate human parts and explore the human body’s potential. For example, Stelarc was able to use a mechanical third hand in his performance, which highlighted how we can use technology to not only replace limbs, but to add parts in order to amplify and extend our bodies.

Image of Stelarc's Third Hand from the artist's site

Stelarc’s art parallels Ingber’s discussion regarding tensegrity structure of human body parts as it is this type of structure that enables our moves to limb and skin to stretch without any discontinuity or breakage. By copying this type of structure, artists such as Stelarc are able to create pieces like The Third Hand, and prosthetic limbs can be created, ultimately widening the creative space for both art and medicine.

A perfect example is Aimee Mullins’ TED talk My 12 Pairs of Legs, in which she highlights the art of building legs. Medical technologies reveal the structure of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, allowing us to create prosthetics that are flexible and mobile like our natural limbs. These prosthetics are often seen as a form of art as they allow people like Mullin to be different heights and employ artistic designs, such as grapevines and magnolias, in her prosthetic parts.

Photo of Mullins' prosthetic legs, featuring the wooden carved pieces on the far right (taken from flickr.com)

This type of art, along with that of Orlan and Stelarc, make the audience question cultural norms regarding human appearance and anatomy, while shedding light on how medical technologies and art intersect. As medical technology advances, so does art as such progression enables artists to test their creative boundaries.


REFERENCES

Ingber, Donald E. "The architecture of life." Scientific American 278.1 (1998): 48-57.

Jeffries, Stuart. "Orlan's Art of Sex and Surgery." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 01 July 2009. Web. 

MutleeIsTheAntiGod. "Orlan - Carnal Art (2001) Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Mar. 2011. Web.

My 12 Pairs of Legs. Perf. Aimee Mullins. TED.com. TED, Feb. 2009. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Human Body & Medical Technologies Part 2” Desma 9: Art, Science and Technology.  Los Angeles, CA. April 21, 2012. Lecture. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Human Body & Medical Technologies Part 3” Desma 9: Art, Science and Technology.  Los Angeles, CA. April 22, 2012. Lecture. Web.