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Stephanie Jung

Wednesday, February 11, 2009














A few years ago I became interested in the OncoMouse, a genetically engineered mouse used in cancer research. I wasn't aware that there are hundreds of patented "creature creations", with more (and stranger) being engineered all the time. In spite of the human desire to alleviate our own suffering, we have certainly created tremendous suffering for other beings. At the same time, I became fascinated with the structures used to house these creatures, which look like smaller versions of the skyscrapers we build for ourselves. I also wanted to include images of gratitude and protection for these animals.
Posted by Stephanie Jung at 11:44 AM

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Artist Statement

My paintings are born out of conversations with the unknown. It is stimulating to me that as an artist, I am a conduit for a visual conversation exploring the nature of the high-tech world's chaotic relationship with wildness and spiritual longing.

My paintings are populated by both natural and spiritual specters. The deer, crocodile, swan, mouse, songbird and the Virgin Mary are frequent visitors to my work. The crocodile and the swan are associated with water as both element and animate spirit. The mouse, particularly the OncoMouse, a genetically engineered rodent used to test cancer drugs, has become a signifier of the tension between human concerns and inhumane actions. The birds are impassive observers to the age-old story of man versus nature. The Virgin appears primarily as a compassionate, even heartbroken, witness. The deer is my muse.

In my most recent work, I discuss the widening gap between intellect and embodiment, between who we are and who we think we are. Recent imagery in my work depicts hybrid beings, joining animal and human elements in unexpected ways. My work also takes on gender issues, deconstructing sexual identity with headless figures of dual gender. These representations appropriate historical paintings of the Rococo and Enlightenment periods, and comment on our efforts to deny our instinctive selves.

No matter how we intellectualize, we cannot think our way out of the wild, out of our animal nature.

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Blog Archive

  • ▼  2009 (19)
    • ►  March (3)
    • ▼  February (16)
      • L'egalite'
      • I love the idea of the deer-woman; there are stori...
      • Portraits of the Enlightenment period often show s...
      • A friend called these images Postmodern bodice-rip...
      • My father has taught me to be an avid bird-watcher...
      • This was the first image that added historical cos...
      • This image makes me think of an orphaned child, wi...
      • No title
      • The image of the deer has haunted me for a long ti...
      • This image was surprising; an image of the Virgin ...
      • The Blessed Virgin Mary
      • No title
      • No title
      • Warbler
      • Canary
      • No title

My Blog List

  • Side-times and the Dream Machine
    Precious Cargo
    16 years ago
  • Wild Figs
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