Event 5: Natural History Museum

While natural history museums may not seem like "art museums" at first, their ability to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike through the technical skill of taxidermy cannot be written off. The displays serve as a symbol of human ability to preserve the representation of life long after it has passed, an illustration of the way we can utilize medical technology to create exhibits which educate and inspire. Additionally, the museum's temporary exhibits on Los Angeles art illustrated the beauty that arise from the mixing of cultures, and explores themes related to robotics and industrialization. 

Image result for los angeles natural history museum african mammals
Image result for body worldsThe exhibits on display in the Natural History museum serve to give people an up-close idea of what animals look like in the wild. Upon seeing the exhibits I immediately thought of Body Worlds, the exhibit which utilized the technique of plastination to create fascinating exhibits of the human body. While different from the Body Worlds exhibits, which display the human skeleton and musculature, the natural history exhibits serve the same purpose of utilizing taxidermy to create inspiring displays. Though these and other methods, artists can leverage medical technologies pertaining to preservation in order to create exhibits which are at once artistic and educational. 

The exhibit "Altar to El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles" was an absolutely captivating display of symbolism and cultural diffusion. Taking "donations" of artifacts from neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles, the altar symbolizes the cultural ties that people share both with Los Angeles and their home countries. The altar displays pictures of family members who fought as soldiers, Latin American sculpture juxtaposed with models of synagogues and menorahs, small sculptures of Buddha and Chinese motifs, Armenian churches and black jazz musicians. All of these stand against the backdrop of the Downtown LA skyline, the Hollywood sign, pictures of Star Trek and dolls of Mickey Mouse, illustrating the incredible diversity of culture and history that exists in Los Angeles. I wonder how, through the advent of the internet and crowdsourcing technology, we could create virtual altars to our culture and society, drawing upon the millions of people in Los Angeles to create an even larger, more comprehensive version of this altar. 

Finally, the museum displayed works by the California Art club. The paintings explored themes of California's national parks, Malibu beachhouses, forgotten roadside neighborhoods lost to the advent of freeways, and futuristic themes. I was particularly drawn by Avatar of Truth and Ready for the Showdown. These works draw from themes of Robotics and Space to portray human themes of prophecy and power as they may look in the future. I always enjoy seeing how artists portray human behavior in the light of massive technological changes. Set against the backdrop of a futuristic skyline, the Avatar of Truth still brings messages of superstition and spirituality. The advent of robotics in the future gives women more ways to portray inner strength. While the technology may change, we as people do not. 


References
“Fascination BODY WORLDS - Experience a Journey under Your Skin!” Bodyworlds.com, bodyworlds.com/.
uconlineprogram. “Medicine pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=244&v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk.

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.

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