NanoTech + Art

In this week’s lectures, Dr. Gimzewski talks a lot about how Nanotechnology helps artist create artworks. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. The major fields of Nanotechnology include nanomaterial, nanoelectronic, nanosystem, nanobiotechnology and others.

NanoArt, as one of these fields, is a new form of art that combines art and Nanotechnology. This field emerges because the development of art and science always go hand in hand and there is no reason for art to stay away from nanotechnology. NanoArt reflects this interdependent relationship between art and science and shows how they are connected by technology.

In NanoArt, Artists create artworks through the various tools and techniques developed in nanoscience. For example, some of photographers prepare their materials and transfer their electron images to their computer in order to design a graphic art form. The images created by electrons are different from the photographic images that are created by photons in that the electron microscope images have more depth and natural 3D look.

As Professor mentioned in his lecture, Roman Lycurgus cup is also a typical example of NanoArt. This extraordinary cup is made of a very special type of glass called dichroic. The cup seems magical because the ancient cup could change color when held up to the light. The opaque green cup turns to a glowing translucent red when light is shone through it. It shows this magical effect because the glass of this cup contains tiny amounts of colloidal gold and silver. Even in the early period of history, nanotechnology has already appeared and been used in artworks. I was impressed by this technique and the beauty of Nanotechlogy.

Beyond all its artistic aspects, NanoArt also offer a way for public to understand the value nanotechnology easily.

Citations:nano art. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://austerechic.blogspot.com/2012/05/nano-art-by-frederik-de-wilde.html>."NanoArt." N.p., n. d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://nanoart.org>."THE LAUREATES OF NANOART 2013." N.p., n. d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.fondation-nanosciences.fr/RTRA/en/659/laureats-nanoart.html>."Developing Molecular Manufacturing." n. page. Print. <http://www.crnano.org/developing.htm>.Lycurgus cup. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 25 Nov 2013. <http://someinterestingfacts.net/what-is-plasmons/>.