2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

To what extent does Patricia Piccinini challenge our perspective on the ethics of bioengineering?

her ideas and challenge those of the viewer, as a strong catalyst for philosophical debate.

Patricia Piccinini In order to grasp an understanding of Piccinini’s thought processes and ideas, it is crucial to delve into her past and upbringing. Piccinini, born in Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa, emigrated to Australia with her parents in 1972. Her mother, an English teacher and her father a builder gives insight into her both creative and manual artistic style (Milosevic, 2013). The political and historically reflective basis of her works can be drawn back to her studies in economic history and her later enrolment to the Victorian College of Arts in Melbourne. Soon enough, Piccinini’s works would inhabit a profusion of exhibitions every year from GOMA in Brisbane, Australia to Centro Cultural Banco in Brasil, Rio (Egan, 2017). In the creation of her three dimensional genetically and technologically modified artworks Piccinini works with a wide range of media and materials, including acrylic, silicone, resin, human hair and leather. However, her works are not restricted to just this, Piccinini’s works also encompass, graphite and charcoal drawings, video/animation, photography and lastly, digital prints. Bringing us to the current day, where she is one of the most awarded and recognisable artists in both Australia and all over the globe (Milosevic, 2013).

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