By: Katherine Brooks
Source: Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/28/mind-art_n_6038210.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Today, within the nation of China lies the world's largest population of disabled individuals, totaling 83 million people. Aside from this, however, "little national support exists" (Brooks, 1). In response to this reality, Chinese artist Jody Xiong, working with Winsor and Newton (the company which provided the paint), undertook what she titled "Mind Art", a project in which sixteen disabled volunteers, as a result of a combination of the mind and science, were able to create art, all, strangely, while remaining physically still. This unthinkable action is possible with a headset (worn by the participants) attached to a certain machine. This machine is able to receive signals from the participants' brains, in turn allowing that energy to pop balloons of paint, resulting in the disabled individuals being the creators of their own abstract art. Xiong was able to take her work all throughout China, managing to reach twenty-two cities, averaging at fifty-thousand visitors a week. Aside from all of this, the created artworks were sold, and $130,000 of the profits were donated to select charities with hopes of increasing the modicum of support towards individuals with disabilities in China.
The concept of technology has, in a sense, taken a turn, or possibly followed its supposed path of making the lives of people easier, simpler. And it has done exactly that, simplifying everyday life, gradually turning it into a rather mundane world of emotionless robots, working absentmindedly with buttons and wires and levers and switches merely to complete a task quickly with no thought or care, and move on. With technology being applied to life in aspects such as the one mentioned here, it may lead one to realize the rather pleasant ways in which technology can be implemented, adding onto knowledge rather than creating machines to diminish it. Aside from its physical aspect, the work of Xiong has allowed an even larger area of humanity to gain expression, as all of humanity should have the ability to do. It is strange how a human being's mind can be silenced as a result of a physical inability, and relates to a feeling of seemingly "negative" differentiation formed when in society. Xiong has allowed this mind to speak, expressing both the power and ability of the mind, as well as the voice of a seemingly silent individual themselves.
Below are the art, and the artists.
No comments:
Post a Comment