A bit about Patricia Piccinini and Ricky Swallow's Artworks

Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini's Cyclepup-Mistral, 2005, represents 'ambivalent hybrids' (Allyn Cantor, 2007), indicating the biotechnical developments and their interaction with the natural environment. She explores this concept through inanimate machines, blurring the boundary between animals and machines. Piccinini fantisises through their biomorphic design; minature scale, rounded shape, large eyes and heads. These mechanical creatures are made of fibreglass, automotive paint, leather and stainless steel. The Cyclepups acquire features of car culture; polished chrome features, slick surfaces, custom designed glossy paints, flamboyant flame patterns and dyed leather upholstery. This artwork takes on an imaginative nature, fulfilling an individuals desires.

Swallow

Ricky Swallow's 'Peugeot Taipan, Commemorative Model', 1999 is also an inanimate, nostalgic, obsolete, recognisable object, perceived in a 1:1 scale, making it a life-like and realistic. Swallow has captured a moment in time; he freezes time, by creating a replica of a BMX bike, denying it its function and purpose. Swallow used PVC piping, PVC (plastic) sheeting, milliput and airbrushed stone white automotive paint in the reconstruction of this model. He built each piece separately and attached them altogether at the end. The tyres were hand cut and pieced on last - they also move, which contributes to the realistic nature of the artwork.