The first picture is from a German artist Neri Oxman. This art piece is inspired by Saturn. Its name Zuhal reflects the planet and the mythology, representing fertility and growth. This top is made by 3D printing technology. This collection has a Arabic name because the medieval Arabs are known for their fascination with astronomy. The second picture is also from Neri Oxman; it is inspired by the story of Medusa, therefore its name is Medusa 1. This helmet uses form-generation processes that can reduce the weight of the helmet while increase its mechanical strength. The patterns on this helmet help increase its surface and its stiffness. This piece of art is also made by 3D printing technology.

As the use of technology becomes more and more popular among artists, some people argue that machine made art piece is not the original art piece. Even though computer and technology are being used in production of art works, artists still are the ones that play the most important role in the entire process. Artists’ ideas are irreplaceable, and these ideas are the original of their art works. The use of computer and technology provides them a more efficient way to produce their art works. Artists who have amazing ideas in their mind do not necessarily have the best art skills, and computers help them to show their ideas / produce their art works in a unique and efficient way. What matters the most are the ideas not how these artistic ideas are being produced.  So as long as artists’ ideas of their art works are original, no matter what they use to produce their art works, their art works are original.

Computer makes art works more practical. For example, the helmet I chose is made by 3D printing technology. And the form-generation processes not only reduce the weight of this helmet but also increase its stiffness. It is impossible for human to make a helmet like this without the help of technology. Technology makes art pieces not just an art piece but also something that is practical to use. Computer is also more precise than human, it can get into some very small and tedious details of an art work, such as the wrinkles in picture two.

Human aesthetic cannot be formalized nor produced, because even though computer is a great tool to produce art works, human aesthetics vary between different individuals and they are not something that computer algorithm, or a series of computer codes can replace.