Recently I’ve
been re-ordering images of invasive birthmarks into
symmetrical patterns. The resulting repetition addresses
both genetic reoccurrence and aberration. By applying rules
of proportion, symmetry and pattern to dermal
“imperfections,” I examine the Western body politic and
probe that sublime space between the beautiful and the
grotesque. The works are part of an investigation that
juxtaposes anomaly against ideal Western paradigms such as
the Fibonacci sequence, the model of proportion as conveyed
in Greek statuary, the Enlightenment concept of purity, and
Nazi propaganda concerning the genetically “perfect” body.
Such topics have been at the forefront of philosophical
inquiry for centuries. In this contemporary setting where
genetic testing abounds they are of specific relevance.
During the past fifteen years there have been two highly
visible studies that have attempted to link the Fibonacci
string model and the golden ratio to the growth of DNA
repetitive sequences and the proportions of nucleobases in
the human genome.
