An
artist being paid nearly £4,000 to create several robotic dogs which
mimic the symptoms of BSE has been branded "insensitive" by
a farming group.
France Cadet
will programme the creations to splay their legs, shake, and keel over
- as if they were suffering from mad cow disease.
She claims the artwork, which will go on display in Bristol, highlights
the dangers of scientific progress.
The NFU said:
"At best, it's very, very odd, at worst grossly insensitive."
The French artist, who will build and design the dogs at the University
of the West of England, was also accused of attempting to gain publicity
through shock value.
Two-headed
dog
But
Ian Johnson, of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said: "I would
question the value of it in cultural terms and certainly for people who
lived with the effects of BSE it's not something they want to be reminded
of in this rather flippant way."
Ms Cadet's previous
work has included a two-headed robotic dog called Schizodog and one with
ears for wings on its back, called the FlyingPig.
She admitted
that her last project, a cow-dog called Dolly, provoked more laughter
than serious contemplation when it went on display.
But she added:
"During my residency at University of the West of England, I am planning
to make a whole pack of robotic cow-dogs that will appear to suffer from
BSE in unison."
Ms Cadet, who
will be the University's artist in residency for the next eight months,
will be funded by the Leverhulme Trust, which awards grants for original
artistic and research projects. |

Dr
Dylan Evan enjoys working
with
robotic artists.
|