Event #3: Nina Sobell and Unspoken Mysteries

          For my third event, I decided to attend the Nina Sobell Zoom event in which she discussed and showcased her revolutionary work. Her art focuses on web-based performances that create intimate connections. Honestly, attending this event I had never heard the name Nina Sobell before, but now I will forever remember it! She used EEG scanning methods to capture visual pictures of two people connecting non-verbally. As Sobell put in her own words, she “believes that all living things are already communicating non verbally, and humans are just becoming aware of that ability” and that she works “with the intangible, the unseen, energy, invisible forces, and making the invisible, visible.” (Sobell 2022) I work in several neuroscience labs on campus so to see the way that she used brain wave patterns to create art and initiate intimacy was actually really beautiful. According to ninasobell.com, Sobell wanted her work to express notions of truth and vulnerability, which was definitely evident in her work. Upon further research, as of recently and according to vice.com, brain wave art has become more prevalent for many neuroscientist artists who want to create different ways of viewing brain patterns. According to glasstire.com, there is another company that has developed an at-home set in which you can create your own art using the headset and your brain waves. This is such a fascinating subject to me and to think that Nina Sobell was one of the first, to start experimenting with this type of art is incredible.

            She also discussed an art installation she made in 1992 regarding the brain wave drawings. She set up a closed-circuit monitor on the inside of the front window of an art gallery. Then she showcased two people that were communicating with each other using their own brain waves. Their EEG brain waves were recorded and this promoted a sense of intimacy. She also discussed the website that she had created in which people all over the world could go to and input their EEG scans with strangers all over the world in order to create a sense of togetherness. It seemed like she wanted to create various interactive environments in which people could come and experience something unique and significant. Another interesting part of her presentation was when she showed her art pieces that she made of what she envisioned the creation of life to be. I think that exploring that concept is so incredibly fascinating. To see how she pictured it was very interesting and it was so intriguing to be allowed to see a moment of her imagination. According to artsandculture.google.com, art and technology have definitely been on the rise especially as technology advances and brings forth an advanced world. It’s beautiful to see how people like Nina Sobell use it to create just stunning exhibitions and statement art. It really makes you think about our world and think of the different ways you can look for the unspoken truth. I am curious about the future of this domain, as art (according to healingpowerofart.org) is known to have healing properties to the mind, how artists can explore those using Nina Sobell’s methods to see the unspoken truth that exists behind this process. 

Resources:

“Brainwave Art.” VICE, https://www.vice.com/en/topic/brainwave-art.

“How Technology and Art Intersect to Create Something New - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/how-technology-and-art-intersect-to-create-something-new-art-center-nabi/iAVBaj3g6RkYKg?hl=en.

Newton, Paula, and Paula Newton. “Dallas Company Presents a Way to Create Art with Brainwaves.” Glasstire, 10 July 2018, https://glasstire.com/2018/07/10/dallas-company-presents-a-way-to-create-art-with-brainwaves/.

Nina Sobell Artist Statement, http://ninasobell.com/statement.html.

Phillips, Renee, et al. “Home.” The Healing Power of ART ARTISTS, https://www.healing-power-of-art.org/art-and-the-brain/#:~:text=There%20is%20an%20increasing%20amount,way%20they%20experience%20the%20world.