2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

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

Manual and creative process In the creation of these three-dimensional transgenic creations, Piccinini undergoes an extensive artistic process. The process commences with graphite sketches or any form of two-dimensional drawing. This is then transferred to a digital manufacturing software such as a CNC, used to adapt and refine this drawing into a three-dimensional sculpture. From this point onwards is where the extensive labour and manual work is executed. Piccinini collaborates with a team of manual artists, in the moulding and intrinsic colouring of the works. Intrinsic colouring is the process of building up paint within the mould using transparent colours and silicone to emulate the characteristics of skin (QAGOMA, 2018). Following the completion of the mould, Piccinini and her team must complete a variety of pivotal finishing touches. This involves embedding thousands of individual hairs, adding numerous varnishes and glosses, resin-work and so on (QAGOMA, 2018). Whilst, this process varies from pieces such as The Young Family (2002) to Embryo (2016) her works often rely on similar processes. Piccinini being born in the ’60s is an individual who has directly experienced the evolution of technology and industry, furthermore how technology has become more and more implanted within our society. In experiencing such, Piccinini has garnered quite a fascination for these advancements, she states: “There are people trying to resist technological advancement as a whole, but I am not one of them. On the other hand, I'm not unquestioning of technology. I do not think technology is good or bad, it is just technology. And as technology progresses, we will need to figure out how we are going to use it.” (Piccinini, 2002) Piccinini acknowledges that technology has played a major role in defining what it means to be human although concurrently cautions us as to how these advancements create an environment where the natural world is seen as a resource to be exploited (Piccinini, 2002). In relation to her recent artistic concepts and designs,

hmd938

7