Event Blog 3: The Getty - In Focus: Electric!

I attended an exhibition at The Getty for my third event. This was my first time at the Getty Center and I loved it! It was so beautiful and views were amazing! I did some research and found an exhibition that I think fits perfectly for the course materials. It combines artwork with the concept of technology in the form of electricity.

The exhibition was called “In Focus: Electric!” It focused on how electrical innovations have transformed our lives and our experiences. The exhibition mainly had photographs of illuminated objects. It was very fascinating learning about how electricity influences artwork and the allure of artificial illumination. On one of the information posters it mentions how we all take electricity for granted as we never experienced life without it, but photographers have always been enchanted by it.

Outside of the exhibition they were selling books that relate to the photographs. One of them was called “Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age.” He was mentioned in Professor Vesna’s Lecture 3, when we learned about how new inventions drastically changed society and the world as we know it. His invention of electricity has influenced artists from that time until now. Without light, art would not be nearly the same.

 When I think about electricity and art, I immediately think of one of the worlds most famously know landmarks, the Eiffel Tower. I think the Eiffel Tower is even more beautiful at night, which is made possible by electricity. This brings me to think of Professor Vesna's Lecture 1 about two cultures. With the two cultures colliding, science and art, the Eiffel Tower is lit up for the entire city to admire. Similarly, science was also needed for the construction and architecture of the tower. Without technological advancements the illumination and construction of the Eiffel Tower would not be possible. This is a prime example of the overlap between science, art and technology. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roddh/743063651

I would definitely recommend for other classmates in Desma 9 to attend this exhibition. This event definitely furthered my understanding of the course materials. I was able to tie together ideas from multiple different weeks. Seeing science and technology directly in artwork and real life examples is a way to fully grasp how science, technology, and art go hand in hand.

Works Cited

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture 2.” Cole UC online. Youtube. 15 Apr 2012. Web. 24 Apr 2016.

"The Getty Museum." Getty Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.