Botched Dollies
2011 - 2013
"Botched
Dollies" - OCT SUHE CREEK Gallery - Shanghai - 2011
"Botched Dollies" is a production of MAC - Maison des
Arts de Créteil.
|
"Botched Dollies" - OCT SUHE CREEK Gallery - Shanghai - 2011 |
“Botched Dollies” is a robotic installation involving 4 robots with
plaster, prosthesis or various
malformations due to cloning experiments commonly used in breeding industry. The audience is invited to watch these 4 "Botched Dollies",
named after the first cloned sheep and in reference to the term "botched taxidermy"
that Steve Baker uses in his book "The postmodern animal". |
Installation:
This
installation is a follow-up to my previous installations Dog[LAB]01 &
Dog[LAB]02 which were already questioning animal experimentations.
These 4 new robots disclose the hidden sides of the research in cloning experiments,
revealing various secret laboratory practices and enlightening numerous botched
trials and failures intrinsic to the universally acclaimed specimen.
The audience is invited to watch these 4 different "Botched Dollies",
named after the first cloned sheep and in reference to the term "botched
taxidermy" that Steve Baker uses in his book "The postmodern
animal".
These "Botched Dollies" embody frequent pathologies and side effects
of cloning experiments commonly used in breeding industry, some animals exhibit
behavioral/morphological pathologies or malformations, some others need
prosthesis or plasters.
The robots are here not only a medium to embody questions about cloning,
but also the fact that these animals are robots moreover
that they are suffering from human or animal pathologies, reminds us that the
more life-like robots become, the more prone they’ll be to illness and human
diseases, challenging the Utopian dreams of trans-humanists in which robotic technology
was seen as a means of overcoming our mortality.
 |
Dolly n°1: Large Offspring Syndrome (LOS) clone
This almost
“dead” Dolly is lying on its side and has an oversize belly. She reveals the
"large offspring syndrome" or "fetal oversize" which is a
phenomenon found 9 times on 10 in calves and lambs generated by nuclear
transfer technology. Cloned animals quite often die from infections
shortly after birth or are born with serious deformities. |
 |
Dolly n°2: Antennapedia C gene mutation (ANT-C gene) This
botched dolly has red eyes and some legs as ears referring to the drosophilae.
This vinegar fly largely is largely used in laboratories for gene mutation
experiments, and develops legs in the eye-antennal disc when she presents the
Antennapedia C gene mutation (ANT-C gene). |
 |
Dolly n°2: Ovine mysotatin gene mutation (MSTN AA This botched
Dolly has some prosthesis fitted with wheels at its front legs in order to
repair missing legs that are frequent in many mutations. This living
robot has artificial prosthesis. Despite her prosthesis the animal
experiences some mobility difficulties. |
 |
Dolly n°2: Ovine mysotatin gene mutation (MSTN) BB This
botched Dolly has been born with severe foreleg deformities. She has some plastered
legs. She remains seated and cries like a sad puppy. These leg malformations
cause balance problems. |
Photos:
Video:
|
|
Exhibition "Augmented Senses" - OCT SUHE CREEK Gallery - Shanghai - 2011 A China - France Media Art Exhibtion. Website of the exhibition "Augmented Senses" - OCT Shanghai |
"Botched
Dollies" is a prduction of MAC