Fowler Museum - Making Strange

Making Strange has quite a fitting name. The mixture of the surreal and uneasy is meant to evoke new thoughts on what is an accepted form of fashion, art, and the human body. First I would like to discuss the portion of the exhibit that focuses on a distortion of the human form. Figure 1 displays an anatomical model that has been configured with a scapula erupting from the chest cavity and several other misplaced organs.

Figure 1: Disfigured anatomical model

This work of art shows an intentional perversion of the human body. Bits are jumbled up, disproportionate, and mixed together. This piece of art really speaks to the sections regarding the human body, especially in biotechnology. Disrupting the human form is something that is generally frowned upon and seems innately repulsing. Classical descriptions have always praised the human body, where here we look at it from a different perspective. This change in perspective really allows the observer to appreciate what is the strange.

Moving along, I will focus more on the Gagawaka pieces of art that form fashionable attire from nonconventional materials. Figure 2 displays a dress made from x ray film.

Figure 2: A dress made from x ray film

This piece directly bridges the gap between medicine and fashion. I really enjoyed this piece in that anything could be transformed into fashionable wear. In addition, the garment has an added layer of depth in the x ray film. I made an effort to look closely at the film to check for any broken bones! I appreciate this kind of art that warrants close inspection and an attention to details.

The final piece I will discuss can relate back to our section on art and neuroscience. Figure 3 displays a clean room jumper filled with pills.

Figure 3: A jumpsuit filled with colorful pills

These pills can be a social commentary on the overabundance of prescription drug usage by the public. Drugs can be used to augment our minds and thoughts in order to change our perspective on the world. This theme of changing perspective is prevalent throughout the entire exhibit. The theme of changing one’s perspective is vital in order to be open-minded and see the world differently. Those who see the world differently will make the world different.   

Lastly here is a picture of me posing with the exhibit title!