A Liverpool exhibition featuring animal parts has been forced to close by the gallery, less than 24 hours after opening on August 9.
The exhibition, Gene Cultures, at Egg Space Gallery, was exploring the debates surrounding genetics and scientific intervention, as well as the ethical implications surrounding this subject. It’s not the first time -nor alas! the last time- that art focused on genetics and life manipulation is censored. Can’t help thinking of the opposition that Eduardo Kac‘s iconic GFP Bunny faced a few years ago when it was due to appear at an arts festival in France. Shortly before the exhibition date, the head of the institute where Alba had been engineered refused to let the rabbit leave, perhaps fearing the public protest and the scrutiny of genetic engineering that such a show would ignite (via). Not to mention Steve Kurtz being accused of bio-terrorism for his art activities.
Alba, the GPF Bunny and Pinky and Perky
Although she consulted with the management of the venue and local animal rights activists while preparing the show, the exhibition curator Gaynor Sweeney said she had been accused of sensationalism and the gallery was also concerned there was a vegetarian restaurant in the same building.
“Statements of ‘sensationalism’ are unfounded, because art and science have played an integral part in the history and evolution of civilisations,” commented Sweeney. “These types of exhibitions, which combine art and science, act as a platform for insight and bring to the forefront awareness on certain subjects. It furthermore acts as a conduit on the subject to both scientist and animal rights activists. Through the freedom of expression by the artists it helps to address and evaluate such subjects.”
Artist Carrie Reichardt’s Pinky and Perky performance (featuring the artist wearing a bra made from two pigs’ heads) was banned on opening night. The work is a critique of the fashion industry and celebrity breast enlargement, but also a reminder of our use of pig parts as food and for spare part internal organs.
Roadkills
Other work on view included skeletons of road kill squirrels collected by artist June Kingsbury and displayed in glass cases and graphite drawings by Jonathan Aldous inspired and loosely based on H. G. Wells‘ scifi novel The Island of Doctor Moreau in which a scientist experiments with vivisecting animals, so that they adopt human appearance and traits.
Via del.icio.us / tag / gene Art in Liverpool and icLiverpool.