Week 3: Robotics + Art

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    When talking about robotics and art, Walter Benjamin voices his opinions on how mechanical reproductions have impacted art in an essay he wrote in 1935. He explains that mechanical reproduction devalues the uniqueness, or aura, of a work of art. “An analysis of art in the age of mechanical reproduction must do justice to these relationships, for they lead us to an all- important insight: for the first time in world history, mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on Ritual (Benjamin).”


From: https://www.fundacioangelusnovus.org/en/walter-benjamin-house/  (Benjamin)


    We know now that robotics has played a huge role in art, especially in films. The first animated TV series in Japan was called Astro Boy. Astro Boy is a classic Japanese manga and anime about a powerful robot boy created by Dr. Tenma after the loss of his son. Astro Boy is gifted with incredible abilities and fights for justice and harmony between humans and robots. This TV show was also made into one of my favorite movies and was released in the US in 2009. The idea was so popular that it kept being reinvented years later, to capture the liking of multiple generations. “Going through this memory lane of Astro Boy‘s history and how each production tried to reinvent the character for a whole new generation, there’s no denying the impact that the original series had on the animation industry and how the studios and animators involved tried to create something fresh and new (Warren and Mitchell).”


From: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/60-years-of-astro-boys-animated-adventures/ (Warren and Mitchell)


    Robotics in artwork has been a fascinating advancement for art. Many creators are using this newer technology to create even more sophisticated pieces. Sougwen Chung is a Chinese-Canadian artist who works with robotics for her artwork. She said in an interview, “It's taught me how embracing imperfection can actually teach us something about ourselves. It's taught me that exploring art can actually help shape the technology that shapes us… (Irpino).”


Sougwen Chung testing marks made by hand compared to made by machine. (Irpino)


    Robotics in art is used by many artists. Gijs Van Bon creates street art with a computer-controlled high-pressure cleaner. “Gijs van Bon explores the way in which images and texts take shape in public space, examining their content as well as formal and contextual qualities (Van Bon).” On the topic of streets there is a robot-like monkey puppet named Mono that goes around and has fun with its audience members. “Mono can ride his bike, play the organ, he screeches and squeaks, makes everybody laugh and gives some people a fright and some even burst out in tears (Electric Circus).”


Left image: (Van Bon) Right image: (Electric Circus)




Works Cited

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: An Influential Essay of Cultural Criticism; the History and Theory of Art. Translated by Harry Zohn, 1935, https://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/benjamin.pdf. Accessed 15 April 2025.

Electric Circus. “Mono the Monkey.” Electric Circus, 2016, https://www.electriccircus.nl/html/mono-eng.html#. Accessed 15 April 2025.

Irpino, Louise. “Robotics in Art.” ArtRKL, 20 March 2024, https://artrkl.com/blogs/news/robotics-in-art. Accessed 15 April 2025.

Van Bon, Gijs. “Street Rover.” Gijs Van Bon, http://www.gijsvanbon.nl/streetrover.html. Accessed 15 April 2025.

Warren, Martyn, and Ben Mitchell. “60 Years of Astro Boy's Animated Adventures.” Skwigly, 2 August 2023, https://www.skwigly.co.uk/60-years-of-astro-boys-animated-adventures/. Accessed 15 April 2025.

Comments

  1. Brandon NguyenApril 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM

    Hello Lauren! I love the way you went into detail about the ways robotics has been used to create art in the past. I found it especially interesting learning about Sougwen Chung and her robotic artwork. It absolutely highlights the symbiotic relationship artists have developed with robots. Artists are beginning to understand robotics instead of despising it. In what ways do you believe robotics may influence art in the coming years, given how quickly technology is advancing?

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