Displaying the different/injured body

In looking at depictions of different/injured bodies I am drawn to the work of Agi Haines and Mia Jane Harris. These are interdisciplinary artists working on hybrid studies at the interface of anatomy and art.

Agi Haines is a bio-artist whose works centre on the intricacies of the human body and the fascinating and unusual phenomena that reside within us. Incorporating issues in the body and injury, some of her work is performative. 

‘Circumventive Organs’, looks at bioprinting the possibility of new organs becoming a reality. Haines works electric eels, defibrillation organ uses parts of the electric eel, using it to discharge electric current to the heart when it recognises it's going into fibrillation. Another uses rattlesnake muscles to release mucus from a person's respiratory system who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Finally, the saliva gland of a leech releases an anticoagulant when it feels the pressure of a potential blood clot in the brain as a way of avoiding a stroke.  

Similarly, ‘The Anatomy Lesson: Dissecting Medical Futures’ explores themes of body and injury. The incorporation of art and science is well balanced with educational purpose but the beauty of the artwork is fascinating with the human body.  

The exploration of the human body's anatomy has been a longstanding endeavour in the realms of art and design, intricately intertwined with scientific pursuits. This connection is evident not only in the creation of anatomical models and atlases but also in the profound understanding of the body's design and functionality. 

Circumventive Organs 2023

Agi Haines

The Anatomy Lesson: DMF

I love the reality and that it could be interpreted either way with the audience, considering how the concept comes across as bizarre but beautiful. Similarly, linking to the human body and differing stages of injury, how it reacts the way it does and if it helps to prevent further damage. I want to design work inspired by Haines’ idea, recreating the body; replicating it, highlighting how we can fix the body or even prevent injury. Also considering the idea that its things we wouldn’t necessarily physically touch in day to day. Silicone and watercolour help give that realistic effect. 

Mia-Jane Harris exposes the peculiar, intriguingly eccentric, and hauntingly beautiful aspects of her work. Her goal is to captivate viewers and immerse them in her realm through peculiar objects and macabre curiosities, intending to evoke emotions related to the themes of life, death, and resurrection. But also themes of blood, relating to injury and internally being brought to the outside similar to the menstrual cycle which I want to share and explore. 

Are we nothing but machines II

Mia-Jane Harris

Your corpse is beautiful XIV

I admire how these pieces look quite disconcerting unknown until looking at the name of the piece and seeing the link, it is also beautiful how rich the pictures quality of them are. 

The title, reminds me how we can be seen as machines having one purpose. Correspondingly to sports players and how they are made and trained producing one main outcome - to win but also trained for a specific role helping the team achieve its goal. I would like to study this further creating works that look into aspects of sport not always shared or discussed. 

I am keen to explore the close-up photography, plus I like the abstract nature of something that may be considered as gross for first impressions but could be interpreted as appealing.  

I want to consider the concept that people can see external injuries but are often unable to see internal injuries or images like muscle fibres, or broken bones. I have used images of bacon, experimenting and attempting to get a visual effect, and I want to develop this further.