The anatomy of wonder

Martian frogs, apes that breathe underwater, pigs bred with human organs, the list of modern-day Frankensteins is a list out of a science fiction fantasy. Genetic engineering brings the world as much promise as possible peril, bringing us dreams of ferocious potential while spinning threads of wonde...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lim, Qi Xuan
Other Authors: Astrid Al Mkhlaafy
Format: Final Year Project (FYP)
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59421
Description
Summary:Martian frogs, apes that breathe underwater, pigs bred with human organs, the list of modern-day Frankensteins is a list out of a science fiction fantasy. Genetic engineering brings the world as much promise as possible peril, bringing us dreams of ferocious potential while spinning threads of wonder into our minds. The New Age of Wonder is not a commentary meant to address moral or ethical issues of genetic modification or animal cruelty, but rather, it seeks to suspend our belief in a fleeting moment between scientific fact and absolute doubt. The work weaves together science and art —inducing a sense of wonder through manipulated facts and pure fiction — and aims to displace the viewer’s sense of reality and comfort. By re-appropriating the century-old concept of the Wunderkammer, this project draws on scientific language and classic visualization techniques to highlight the ongoing Cartesian tug-of-war between Man and Nature that continues emphatically today.