Bryan Crockett
Pinkie, 2001, cultured marble, 18" x 12" x 20"
Science has taken over the authority that religion once held. In this body of work, I am exploring the sacredness of the flesh and soul in a time when we have acquired the knowledge and tools to play God. I am not opposed to genetic tampering, but I do believe that it will force us to come to terms with the metaphysical meaning of science. Because the lab mouse has been used to test almost every product, disease and other facet of human life, I have chosen to interpret this ultimate actor of modern science through the ultimate figure of salvation, Jesus Christ. Here, Pinkie is represented as the Christ child. The scale is that of a fleshy human baby, sculpted with the pathos of classical sculpture. His hand reaches upward in a gesture of blessing and his always-present stare places you at the heart of his soul. The vernacular of marble sculpture is important to this work. In classical sculpture, marble is the material of the flesh, and its sacred purity evokes a sense of divine creation and immortality.
