Week 8: Nanotechnology and Art

Nanotechnology has certainly changed the way people perceive the world. The old mindset of "seeing is believing" is not applicable to nanotechnology. This new science is creating a paradigm shift in people's perception of reality from a purely visual point to the one based on sensing and connectivity. Through this week's lectures, I have a comprehensive understanding of nanotechnology and its applications across various scientific fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, material science and engineering. Although nanotechnology is developed only after the invention of various observation tools like the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and the atomic force microscope (AFM), the use of nanotechnology in art can be traced back to the stained glass windows of medieval churches. 

Medieval stained glass windows:

http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition

Today, the use of "first generation" passive nano-materials includes titanium dioxide in sunscreen, cosmetics and surface coatings. With 15,342 atoms, this parallel-shaft speed reducer gear is one of the largest nanomechanical devices ever modeled in atomic detail. 

http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm

Many artists gained inspiration from nano technology and incorporated that into their art work. Christian Orfescu is among one of them, as he hopes his art stirs people's curiosity about nanotechnology.

(Photos: Courtesy of NanoArt 21)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/?_r=0

Moreover, with nanotechnological development like DNA folding techniques, artists would have more tools and freedom to create things that we can now only dream of. As Paul Rothemund demonstrated in his TED speech, we now able to fold DNA into shapes and patterns and this process would have vast implications for computing and manufacturing, in which artists may help to design these futuristic products. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_details_dna_folding?language=en

Paul Rothemund's research shows that DNA folding is much easier than people once thought of. Shawn Douglas, a bio-nanotechnology professor at UCSF, created a short animation of the DNA folding process. The process of DNA origami (a method for constructing DNA objects) involves taking a long, single-stranded DNA backbone (usually about 7000 bases in length) and forcing it to adopt an arbitrary shape using hundreds of short, single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides. 

DNA origami folding animation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4C_aFlyhfI

Two examples of DNA origami products are shown below. Objects like square nut, railed bridges and even a complete China map may be created with this DNA folding technique.

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/files/2012/12/DNA-origami-electron-micros.jpg

DNA origami of China:

http://www.dna.caltech.edu/~lulu/research_4.html

Other interesting nanotechnology's applications in art include nano images taken with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Artists are able to depict a baby giraffe formed within a jungle of Ni-Al-C dendrite and nano flower made of zinc oxide, Scanning electron microscope image of zinc oxide nanowire arrays with flower-like form.

Nano Baby Giraffe:

Nano Flower: 

http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=25042.php

DNA origami and nano images are just two examples of the applications of nanotechnology in art. It is clear that nanotechnology has greatly impacted contemporary art in various ways and its impact would likely to continue as the technology becomes even more mature. 

Sources:

“Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

DNA Folding, in Detail. By Paul Rothemund. Perf. Paul Rothemund.TED. TED Conferences, LLC, Feb. 2008. Web. 19 May 2015.

Douglas, Shawn M., et al. "Self-assembly of DNA into nanoscale three-dimensional shapes." Nature 459.7245 (2009): 414-418.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The nanoneme syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of a new science." Technoetic arts 1.1 (2003): 7-24.

Goodsell, David S. "Fact and fantasy in nanotech imagery." Leonardo 42.1 (2009): 52-57.

Poole Jr, Charles P., and Frank J. Owens. Introduction to nanotechnology. John Wiley & Sons, 2003.

Qian, Lulu, et al. "Analogic China map constructed by DNA." Chinese Science Bulletin 51.24 (2006): 2973-2976.

Rothemund, Paul WK. "Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns."Nature 440.7082 (2006): 297-302.