Tracie Shaylor’s practice shows an awareness of trajectories within modern art history and an understanding of where the individual’s practice can situate within that, whilst still finding a form of expression that was not imitative. There is a thoughtful engagement with ideas, with a clear rapport and understanding of the concept but not to the point of illustration. Prior practice dealt with issues of ‘feminism and sexuality’, with subject matters such as equality, patriarchal social systems and finally gender role reversal, with “Evolution and Atrophy.”
‘Lost Identity’ is a natural progression in response to recent articles concerning the possibilities of human cloning without the need of human sperm?
Lost identity concerns embryonic stem cell research and the potential outcomes of such scientific investigation. The aim is to create art that is ambiguous however bringing attention to the viewer the advancement of genetic engineering, since ‘Dolly the Sheep’.These scientific experiments take place, with new improved human cloning technology, which are destroyed after a certain stage of development, raising questions of ethics and eugenics.
Lost Identity originates from sculpted ceramics. The intended embryonic, amorphous shapes gradually become recognizable as human form.This work is part of a new series. The objective is to generate a collection of seven, referencing the biblical seven days of creation. The set of seven to emphasize the issue of a genetic re-engineering and the potential of an artificial cloned human race.
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www.tracieshaylor.co.uk
