Patricia Piccinini Lumps and Stem cells

10th September - 28th September 2002

This exhibition brings together three works by renowned Melbourne artist Patricia Piccinini, to focus on her approach to genetic engineering. The grouping is inspired by a major new acquisition to the Monash University Collection, Still Life with Stem Cells, 2002, which is presented with Lumpland, a photograph by Piccinini purchased in 1995, and an interactive LumpCD, from 1999.

Still life with stem cells is one of many works by Piccinini that have explored new life-forms, beginning with the artist's creation of an embryonic Lump in pig flesh in 1994, and developed in photographs, videos and sculptures that represent or embody synthetic life forms: from LUMP to her animated SO2 or Siren Mole (inspired by scientists who synthesised DNA to create SO1, or Synthetic Organism).

Stem cells (cells that can grow into other kinds of cells) represent potential life and the possibility of curing disease. Piccinini delights in the creative possibilities of such a medium, whose promise lies in its extreme plasticity (scientists call this 'pluripotential'). She uses her other favourite materials -- plastic and computer pixels - to mimic the generative potential of a substance that may be used to create any living organ or organism.

Yet the use of stem cells may involve the destruction of life and has unknown biological ramifications. Their curious manifestation in this work as objects in a still life emphasises the dangers. Historically a still life was often an allegory on the transience of life or the inevitability of death. Joined together, stem cells and still life represent a deeply ambivalent attitude towards genetic technology typical of Piccinini's work.