Patricia Piccinini

um bestiário contemporâneo

Abstract

Crossing imaginary and fantastic creatures, genetic science and ethics and empathy relations, the Australian Patricia Piccinini (1965) presents monstrous beings that are possible results of the mixture of human and animal DNA and invites the viewer to think about the affective side of such beings by placing them in worldly life situations. Approaching scientific knowledge in a mythological way, the artist creates a bridge with the past by producing a bestiary of creatures that invite reflection on current themes. With this in mind, this article intends to present Patricia Piccinini's poetics, establishing an anachronistic relationship between her works series Nature’s little helpers and the medieval literature of bestiaries, which emerged during the Middle Ages. To this end, one propose a historical tour that highlights the possible correlations between this contemporary artist works and artistic productions from the past.