|
Hyperdomestic
Cacti 1998-99next
>>> |
|
These
are selections from a series of works which projects humankind's
aesthetic ideals of nature onto real and fictitious cacti. Taking
existing examples of human engineering such as strangely altered
grafted cacti, and genetically enhanced, human friendly spineless
cacti, this body of work imagines the possible future permutations
of these living forms. Now that we have engineered a spineless
cactus (widely available at Home Depot nurseries), we may begin
to miss the beauty of the spines and so design the next version
to include soft, ouch-less spines. Perhaps we will engineer future
houseplants - our surrogate nature - in ways that enable them
to show us their emotions or desires, or reflect ours back to
us. Indeed, it is possible that our new creations could affect
us in ways that bring about a greater appreciation for, and conservation
of, the non-human world.
|
|
|
Hyperdomesticates
I & II 1998 (10" x 14" x 7")
A
live, grafted cactus (right) consisting of five distinct varieties,
posing next to a rubber cactus with real cactus spines. Urethane
elastomer, cactus spines, clay, rocks, grafted cacti (5 varieties),
plastic, soil and wood. |
|
|
Hyperdomesticate
III 1999 (15" x 15" x 6")
Live Spineless Opuntia cactus, cast rubber spines, clay, rocks
and soil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|