Robotics + Art

Walter Benjamin
(1892-1940)

The printing press from China that was made known by Yohannes Gutenberg allowed the public to have access to education and knowledge. That mass production of literature progressed into the world wide web we have today. With the click of a button, anyone can view a painting or read a novel.

Walter Benjamin in his essay, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction states that "even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking one element: the presence in time and space its unique existence at the place where it happens to be." Industrialization has made art obtainable to the masses to own their copies of; however, the reproductions have lead to the disappearance of the "aura" each piece has. 

Adam Lindemann believes that artists who hire
assistants are "designing the work not executing it,
in the way an architect designs a building but
doesn't necessarily lay the bricks," he says.

The industrialization aspect of art is not limited to the factories that simply make copies, but includes the use of assistants in creating pieces. Controversy lies with the idea of artists hiring people to essentially create their artwork for them. Whether it is public knowledge or not, a number of upcoming artists, as well as, famous ones use the hands of other, similar to an assembly line, to create each masterpiece while they sign the corner. Some say that "the value of a work is not invested in the hand that made it, but in the intention and realization." But others disagree with the fact that a piece is not its own without one's personal imperfections in it. The debate can go on, but personally, I believe that the blood, sweat and tears that go into a piece of art deserves the recognition of the hands that built it.

De Young Museum in San Francisco, CA

The De Young Museum in San Francisco has a robot that can be directed around in order to take a tour while in their own home. This advancement in technology supports Gutenberg's idea of spreading art to those who lack the ability, whether its due to age, distance, or financial reasons. 
ut advancement of technology in art does not always have to be negatively controversial. The idea of robotics in art has sparked the idea of robotics embracing the idea of spreading knowledge and art to the public. Art can be seen in books and computers, so the emotional connection of seeing a piece in person is slowly disintegrating. Those who lack accessibility to museums in order to view the pieces have been granted a gift.

Sources: 
[1] ABB Robotics - Robotic Artist at Long Distance Art Event. ABB Robotics, 2013. Film.

[2] Benjamin, Walter, and J. A. Underwood. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.

[3] Lim, Angelica. "What Roboticists Can Learn From Art, and What Artists Can Learn From Robots." Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/diy/what-roboticists-can-learn-from-art>.
[4] "Robots Open up the World of Art." CBSNews. CBS Interactive. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/robots-open-up-the-world-of-art/>.
[5] "The Art Assembly Line." WSJ. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303745304576357681741418282>.