artforms:
Photography
Digital Imaging
Animatronic Sculptures

science engagements:
Genetic Manipulation

science partners:
Biology and Ethics: Peter Stroud, Melbourne Zoo
Taxonomist: Paul Andrew, Taronga Zoo
Morphology critic: Peter Temple Smith, Zoological Parks and Gardens Board

project description:

The Siren Mole's (SO2) is a new, genetically engineered animal that I have designed. Its proper Latin name is 'Exallocephala Parthenopa' which is a wonderfully romantic name given to it by Paul Andrews, a taxonomist at Taronga Zoo. Parthenopa comes from Parthenope, the name of a Siren said to have been cast up and drowned on the shores of Naples. This is where SO2 gets its new common name: the Siren Mole.

The SO2 deals directly with the implications of contemporary genetic technologies, but does so in a complex and ambiguous way. Beacause the creature is an animal, rather than a human being, it allows audiences to address genetic issues without the heightened emotions that the idea of human cloning and manipulation evokes. It still poses some very interesting and relevant questions such as "Why would you create new life?" and "Where would it belong?"

exhibition history:
The Melbourne Zoo (as a part of the Melbourne Festival)
Songs of the Earth, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel 2000
Passing Time, Art Gallery of NSW 2000
hybrid<life>forms, Netherlands New Media Institute, 2001

links:
http://www.patriciapiccinini.net

movies:
high bandwidth QuickTime - 744Kb
low bandwidth QuickTime - 216Kb
high bandwidth mpeg - 1.5Mb