A synthesized version of the genetic information of each one of my twenty-three pairs of chromosomes is engraved on a different plexiglass piece. “Amateur Gods” is thus constituted by twenty-three components representing my most intimate self. These sculptures have a reminiscence of the interlocking games we played when kids, and make an allegory with the newest discoveries regarding genetic engineering, specifically with the “CRISPR” tool.
In this work, I played “Amateur God” myself, trying different morphologies and dispositions until I got to the final disposition, my self-constructed SELF. Choosing to use transparent acrylic in "Amateur Gods" brings forth a powerful conceptual statement about the universality and purity of genetic information. The artwork underlines the commonality in the human condition, emphasizing that beneath the surface, our fundamental genetic structures are more alike than they are different. The transparency metaphorically represents the openness of our genetic 'book'—one that is universally readable, inviting contemplation on the shared human experience, unobscured by the diversities that color perception.
Moreover, this approach signifies the vulnerability and fragility of our genetic essence. In a time when genetic information is increasingly accessible and modifiable, transparent acrylic symbolizes a future where privacy is translucent, and genetic data is an open frontier for exploration and alteration. This creates a canvas for discourse on the implications of such transparency, provoking a dialogue on the ethics of genetic visibility within the larger societal framework. The clear material acts as a looking glass through which we view the blueprint of life—untinted, unaltered, and strikingly raw.
