Conte | Pencil Crayon | Pastel

Hybrids 2, 2023

Oil Pastels on Paper

My work is based on a broad and expansive use of different mediums with a preference in hands-on drawing. I have revisited the concept of hybridization of animals and humans for the purpose of organ donations. My research focuses on the ideas surrounding the ethical implications of laboratory human and animal made hybrids called chimeras. Within laboratory settings, scientists have been pushing the boundaries of ethics by attempting to create animals with human organs. Currently they have attempted this experiment with pigs, rats, rabbits, and sheep and have strayed away from using monkeys. Although they have had success, the debate continues in weighing the pros and cons of these experiments. Although the transplants would bring a possible end to the organ crisis numerically and could reduce rejection rates, the concept of animals and humans brings a lot of cons which are majority placed in ethical contexts. Bringing awareness to the construction of these hybrids allows for further questioning if the benefits of these tests outweigh the ethical implications.

My work is often black and white, however for this artwork I have created it in colour. I think that this adds to the physicality and the presence of these experiments. It also pushes me as an artist to explore materials to a deeper understanding. I chose to draw the images with mediums that naturally resist each other. Using oil-based drawing materials with water-based mediums, the drawing itself rejects itself naturally as do the hybrids. Therefore, I have created four mixed media drawing of humans-animal figures on toned paper. Each representing a different animal including a rat, rabbit, and a sheep.