Blog 1 - Olivia Collins

One of the earliest examples of a collide between art and science is the Egyptian pyramids. These ancient structures have a mysterious origin that even today we know little about the intent. The most well known is the Pyramid of Khufu since it is the largest Eqyptian pyramid standing at 455 ft. All three of the pyramids located on the Giza plateau are believed to be aligned with the constellations of Orion’s Belt. This idea, known as the Orion correlation theory, has its evidence from how the three pyramids line up with the stars Delta Orionis (Mintaka), Epsilon (Alnilam), and Zeta (Alnitak) that make up  Orion’s Belt. The smallest of the three, the Pyramid of Menkaure, even matches the smallest star being slightly offset to the East. Some also believe that the placement of the pyramids were so intentional that the Nile River is meant to represent the Milky Way. The Egyptians did refer to the stars of Orion with Osiris which is why it is believed the pyramids or the tombs of pharaohs, would be placed in correspondence with the God of the afterlife. Even without the Orion constellation theory there are many aspects of the pyramids that involved scientific thinking including the construction of the tombs and the air shafts. As far as art the pyramids are not the first thing that comes to mind but there can be many arguments made to why the are. The sculpture like structure and even the Sphinx in Giza could all be considered early forms of art. 
On a different note, contemporary artists are more intentional when mixing science into their practice. Rachel Sussman is a contemporary artist and photographer that travels around the world to create her work. For her project titled Oldest Living Things In the World, she collaborates with biologists to photograph different living organisms that are over 2,000 years old. She says she starts with the “year zero” to explore the past and the fast approaching present. She thinks of it as taking portraits where the subject of the picture is an actual individual. Sussman has another ongoing project titled Cosmic Microwave Mandala where she works with the principles of physics to explore the nature of the universe. She creates these pieces with the traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice of making sand mandalas. The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) refers to the earliest light of the universe that is a permanent imprint on the sky . She juxtaposes the idea of CMB with the mandalas that are ceremonially destroyed. Sussman destroyed the mandalas which signified the end of the exhibition. 
http://www.rachelsussman.com/portfolio#/oltw

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