Patricia Piccinini "Not As We Know It"
Haunch of Venison
This event has ended.
An exhibition of new and recent sculptures by celebrated Australian artist Patricia Piccinini. Piccinini is best known for creating a transgenic menagerie of hype-realistic creatures made of silicone and fiberglass that simultaneously question the implications of new biotechnologies and elicit diverse and often-conflicting emotional responses from the viewer.
One of the highlights of "Not As We Know It" is the figurative sculpture "Balasana" featuring a young girl reclining in the yoga position "child's pose" with a sleeping wallaby on her back. The viewer is immediately struck by the unusual pairing of a small child with a marsupial that is found only in the remote wilds of Australia. The literal balance of the animal on the girl's back is precarious and entirely dependent upon the stillness of the child, suggesting a similar dependence that nature has on human beings.
The exhibition will feature a number of new figurative sculpture by Piccinini that continue her investigation into the novel relationships that might result from the collision of nature and technology, implied by the reality of biotechnology and genetic manipulation. Tied to this are concerns about the environmental and social responsibilities inherent in the development of new species and forms of life.
[Image: Patricia Piccinini "The Stags" (2008) Fibreglass, automotive paint, cycle parts Two pieces: 69.7 x 72 x 40.2 in. and 57.9 x 35.4 x 39.8 in.]
Media
Schedule
from September 16, 2010 to October 30, 2010