Summary:
This week I have been focused on working towards my deadline for submission next week therefore I have been finishing off paperwork and continuing research. Specifically I have been researching ideas which could develop into my practice over the summer into the next unit of work.
After my exhibition last week I considered how people saw my work and their responses. Most people saw the animal head sculpture as a statement about animal experimentation. Specifically animal genetic experimentation resulting in animal hybrid abominations. I researched animal genetics during wars the most interesting that I found was the Nazi breeding project before and during the second world war.
Hitler and Goering wanted to return to the idealistic past where Germany was covered in dense forests that were inhabited by a species of cow called Aurochs which were large buffalo like animal with highly aggressive characteristics. The Nazis therefore wanted to bring this animal back from extinction as a trophy animal for a hunt.
A breeding project was therefore developed to create a genetic recreation of the aurochs from modern day species of cattle. This resulted in the Heck cattle. A new species of cow that was similar in size and shape to the Aurochs with similarly aggressive characteristics, just before the outbreak of the war a small population was released into Germany's forests. Below is an image of a Heck cattle bull.
After my exhibition last week I considered how people saw my work and their responses. Most people saw the animal head sculpture as a statement about animal experimentation. Specifically animal genetic experimentation resulting in animal hybrid abominations. I researched animal genetics during wars the most interesting that I found was the Nazi breeding project before and during the second world war.
Hitler and Goering wanted to return to the idealistic past where Germany was covered in dense forests that were inhabited by a species of cow called Aurochs which were large buffalo like animal with highly aggressive characteristics. The Nazis therefore wanted to bring this animal back from extinction as a trophy animal for a hunt.
A breeding project was therefore developed to create a genetic recreation of the aurochs from modern day species of cattle. This resulted in the Heck cattle. A new species of cow that was similar in size and shape to the Aurochs with similarly aggressive characteristics, just before the outbreak of the war a small population was released into Germany's forests. Below is an image of a Heck cattle bull.
This is an example of animal genetic experimentation which has created monstrous beast like organisms. I'm not sure whether or not I want to focus on working around this specific example however the idea of looking at animal genetic experimentation with links to the theme of human conflict. Perhaps in a similar way to the work of Charles Avery. A project created around a fictional back story which is an embodiment of my themes.
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