Anatomy and Art

This video starts with a spoken word poem, and continues on to say some really nice things about communication and really art in general. It’s one of those remarkably healthy takes on art, creation, and the connections we make as artists. And I thought it was worth posting here. Don’t expect a medical talk, this one is pure art and inspiration.

I guess it was a couple of weeks ago I found myself looking at this picture, and rather than remarking at the beautiful sense of lighting and form, and all of that warmth that Rembrandt is so deservedly known for, all I could think about was my goodness, can you imagine being dressed like that for a class dissection?!?  Don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful painting, and a fine example of chiaroscuro.  I also love that he actually bothered to paint specific identifiable anatomy within this portrait of anatomy students.  But just, man, we generally wore scrubs in the anatomy lab, sometimes a lab coat.  But look at them! Dark, heavy, absorbent looking fabrics, and white crisp cuffs!  The 1600s were different times indeed.

And yes, having said all that, Rembrandt really was one of the greats.  This scene, a bunch of overdressed guys standing over a cadaver, would never have had nearly the warmth or softness in the hands of any other artist.

I don’t often get very excited about pictures of flowers and butterflies, but Cecelia Webber has done something really cool here.

At first glance, her use of human figures isn’t even entirely apparent.  Sometimes you have to look closely.  Other times, she gives you a clue, like in this Summer Dandelion shot.

Her work as an artist includes this Petal series, impressionist and modernist paintings, experimental film and music video work, and an existentialist webcomic called I Don’t Get It Either.

You can read more about her here on her webpage.
http://ceceliawebber.com/about/

What a delightful find tonight…

This and other such pieces can be found on the Vanitas, blog site of Fernando Vicente.
http://fernandovicentevanitas.blogspot.com/

Looks like he also has his own website.
http://www.fernandovicente.es/

My Spanish is pretty shaky, but he appears to be a well published painter, specializing in pin ups and political satire as well as the medical paintings I first saw on his blog.  He was born in Madrid, and he began his career in the 80s combining painting with illustration.

These are fantastic!

So, these are fairy fantastic.  Fetal and skeletal bears, oh my!

Check out more by Stephanie Metz at her site!

http://www.artbysteph.com/portfolioTeddyNaturalHistory.html

I was scoping around the internet a bit today for interesting anatomy and art related projects when I stumbled across photographer Miru Kim.  Miru Kim is not an anatomical or medical artist, but rather she is an artist who takes some of her inspiration from early anatomy lessons.  Her work deals more with what’s under the skin of a city, and urban decay, but I was so impressed with her that I simply had to write about her here.

Playing both the role of photographer and model, she has captured photos for her series, Naked City Spleen, across various cities spanning several countries, and getting into fascinating underground and decaying places.  I am usually the last to be impressed by themes or series in an artist’s work, but there is something about the repeated juxtaposition of her naked figure against these decaying environments that speaks to the vulnerable nature of humanity and yet at the same time emphasizes a strength and bravery as you begin to contemplate the positions that this artist has put herself into for her art.

Below I’ve embedded the TED talk she gave in 2008.  It is well worth the watch.

So back in my Los Angeles days I had the pleasure of knowing an artist by the name of Kasey McMahon.  It has in fact crossed my mind a few times to post here on her delightfully eerie creation, combining her artistic sensibilities, knowledge of computers, and knowledge of taxidermy, the Compubeaver…

As I recall, it took me hours to work up to touching it back in the time of it’s creation.  That was of course *before* my time in gross anatomy.

Well, it has recently come to my attention that she has just launched a new website, and I would like to recommend that everyone check it out.

http://atypicalart.com/index.htm

Recently I found myself thinking about the artist, Alex Grey. His work comes across to me as an elaborate combination of anatomy, spirituality, and psychadelic design. You’ve probably encountered his work yourself, weather or not you were aware of it at the time. He has been featured on the album covers of several bands, he’s been all over various magazine publications, and if you’ve spent time in New York, you may have even found his Chapel of Sacred Mirrors gallery.

Sometimes when I look at his work I am inspired by how much creativity and expression he has managed to combine with his anatomical knowledge to create the art he does. Sometimes I see his success as a comforting sign that such work can be and is so appreciated in it’s own right. Sometimes when I look at it, I am more critical, and find myself wondering if someone could really learn much about anatomy or medical principles from his images. Such thoughts almost always cycle back into thoughts of what is it that makes an image important anyways. Sometimes I see his intensity, and attention to detail. Other times can’t help but smirk and think “silly hippie” But all boiled down it is very clear that this is a man who has honed his craft to create some beautiful images, who has honed his work into a clearly identifiable voice, who has taken the time to truly understand human form inside and out, and still strives to express his visions of humankind and the universe at large.

It is always a pleasure to find an artist who means it, and who has put some real time into their craft. So I leave you with his image “Wonder”, and the man himself.

Last night I had the rare privilege of seeing a few of artist Dave McKean’s works up close and first hand followed by live performances and a screening of the 1929 silent film classic, Faust.  I had first discovered Dave McKean in my highschool years through his collaborations with Neil Gaiman.  Then he wrote Cages, and there was just something about it.  I couldn’t synopsize that story for you now if I tried, but even not having looked at it in over a decade, there are pieces of it that continue to stick with me. When I shook his hand last night, I asked him if he would speak a bit about his process.  As it turned out, his time at the microphone was short, but what he did speak of was inspiration.  He spoke of being inspired by these old early films.  And in some ways, I think that was a better answer.  Process always begins with inspiration. You can see here, the original film image of the devil taking the village, and then McKean’s take on it.

Now I had gone to this event last night looking to be inspired in mixed-media work.  I went with a head swimming with thoughts about what one medium can bring to another and how I could use different kinds of skills together in my own work.  But what I found instead, was inspiration in how powerful appreciation alone can be.  And maybe this whole idea of mixing mediums to create something new really begins with looking at more kinds of art. The works I saw last night were not anatomical or scientific in nature.  They were, on the contrary, works of expression.  But perhaps there are lessons to be learned here that can be utilized in other kinds of art. So I guess the thought I leave you all with, is to remember your inspirations, whatever they may be.