Hybrids seem to be spending a lot of time in the spotlight these days, don’t you think? But have you seen or heard of this sculpture that is a different kind of hybrid that is taking the Internet by storm? If you haven’t, then that picture should catch your attention at the very least.
So this is what has been going around the Internet, mainly through e-mails: this picture of a sculpture which is a juxtaposition of humans and dogs. I know that dogs are supposed to be man’s best friend but this sculpture just does not evoke nice and positive feelings in me. Take a look at it again and you just might have an idea of what I am talking about.
The sculpture is the brainchild of Sam Jinks. This particular photo shown is titled “The Young Family,” and is actually part of a larger collection dubbed “We Are Family.” The hybrids in this collection, as you can see, are more human-like than dog-like, but the similarities still do not easily with the average person.
If you want to see more of these strange creatures, you just need to go to Patricia Piccinini’s web site. Not a familiar name? Here is a short description from the National Gallery of Victoria:
She is keenly interested in how contemporary ideas of nature, the natural and the artificial are changing our society. Specific works have addressed concerns about biotechnology, such as gene therapy and ongoing research to map the human genome… she is also fascinated by the mechanisms of consumer culture.
Indeed, this collection supports that, doesn’t it? What can you say about the sculpture?