NanoTech + Art


Nanotechnology is thought to be the future of all technologies– a platform that includes countless disciplines, from biology to engineering to medicine to chemistry. Nano drugs like Abraxane are used to treat breast cancer, nano foods allow for the creation of long-life packaging and health supplements (Gimzewski), and nanoparticles give rise to intelligent technology that we use in our daily lives. Nanotechnology also plays a significant role in art conservation and protecting historical art from future damage, allowing us to continue uniting the fields of arts and sciences and connect people in today’s diverse and complicated world. For instance, nanodroplets are used to remove oils, nanocontainers are used to fix old paint, and nanoparticles are used to restore artifacts and bones (Manik). Nanotech encompasses many– if not all– of the topics we’ve discussed in the course, such as medicine, robotics, math, and art. 


Nanotech in Art

Nanotech in food


Although nanotechnology is the study of microscopic molecular structure, it is not simply about making things smaller for the sake of it. Nanotechnology is a powerful tool that makes possible the detection of tiny concentrations and assemblies of atoms. It shows us that materials at the nanoscale have chemical and physical properties that can change dramatically, and these properties can be manipulated to make materials behave the way we want them to. The ability to increase diversity, complexity, and functionality of things at the nanoscale has important implications for humans– it provides us with a platform with immense potential to positively enhance our quality of life (Nasiri). 


Beyond the nano-scale


As Dr. Gimzewski memorably noted, the sciences (although beautiful) are a complete abstraction of the world we live in. Scientific theories are guided by the Law of Parsimony, however, it is dangerous to assume that the elegance of science is predominantly in the simplicity of it (Gimzewski). As we’ve discovered in this course, there are so many interconnects that go beyond a binary cause and effect interaction, even at the nanotech level. 




References


Digital Image. “Art Conservation and Nanotechnology.” Sustainable Nano. Web. https://sustainable-nano.com/2017/05/12/art-conservation-and-nanotechnology/


Digital Image. “Nano What?” Tate. Web. https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/projects/nanorestart/nano-what


Digital Image. “Nanotechnology could make our food tastier and healthier – but can we stomach it?” The Conversation. 22 June. 2016. Web. https://theconversation.com/nanotechnology-could-make-our-food-tastier-and-healthier-but-can-we-stomach-it-60349


Gimzewski, James. “Hello.” CoLE DESMA 9. 17 May. 2021. Lecture.


Gimzewski, James. “Nanotech pt1.” CoLE DESMA 9. 22 May. 2012. Lecture.


Gimzewski, James. “Nanotech pt6.” CoLE DESMA 9. 22 May. 2012. Lecture.


Manik, Suni. “Art Conservation and Nanotechnology: A Wonderful Confluence of Arts and Sciences.” 12 May. 2017. Web.


Nasiri, Noushin. “Nanotechnology is not simply about making things smaller.” TEDxMacquarieUniversity. 15 October. 2019. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8d3pxVb4c4

Comments

  1. ChrisMay 22, 2021 at 2:33 AM

    Hey Sarah!
    Waow! I didn't know that nanotechnology could be used to remove oils and restore artifacts. This brings up new ideas into preserving current art and saving dying art such as cave paintings which have now eroded due to human interaction and time. Nanotechnology really does play an important role in art- Chris C

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dwight BumgarnerMay 23, 2021 at 12:00 PM

    I enjoyed reading your blog post Sarah! I also think it is fascinating how nanotechnology can alter the material properties of matter and "make them behave the way we want them to." Material science is a field which I am not too familiar with, but such takes on these fields make me wish I knew more about how different materials are fabricated and tested for specific use cases. I definitely agree that nanotechnology opens up endless possibilities in art through such fields, and I am excited to see what new materials arise in the art world as nanotechnology advances!

    -Dwight Bumgarner

    ReplyDelete

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