I
I
am concerned with the often contentious global debate about science,
culture and religion and how a seemingly willful lack of understanding
hinders our development as better human beings. My work explores
bioethics
and
the dichotomy between emotional and intellectual thought in an
increasingly technological world.
Specifically,
I am interested in ethical questions created by rapidly advancing
technology. Is it right to artificially sustain those
in persistent vegetative conditions? Is
it moral to abort a fetus that tests positive for a serious abnormality?
What are the implications of using non-human cells to treat diseases?
Current technology can make makes for very difficult decisions,
especially when religious beliefs are also considered. Are we
being smart to take advantage of what science and medicine can
offer or are we playing God? At what point do we draw the line?
To
explore these ideas in the studio, I manipulate and assemble natural
materials such as shells, hair and seeds with manmade products
such as metal, plastic and glass. I also select movies that show
the latest scientific advancement in the field of biophysics.
I combine the videos and objects with anthropomorphic
specimen cases so that they can be seen but not touched. Some
works are fun, elegant and beautiful; others are marred by the
recombination process. Viewers
become participants in the work when they peer inside a piece
and see their reflection. This
series speaks to the human desire for progress and the possibility
of Frankensteinian horrors.
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