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Anatomy
Acts Object Guide No.168 Black, White and Shades of Grey, 2006 Christine Borland (b1965) Courtesy of Lisson Gallery, London |
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Christine Borland is one of Scotland's most successful and internationally
recognised artists, and is currently a research fellow at Glasgow
School of Art. Her work is associated with the systems and processes
that underpin our society, including forensic science and medicine.
Recent work has shown an interest in ethics and the consequences
of medical decision making. For this work, the overriding image
in reference to anatomy is of branch-like networks, in particular,
bronchial structures. When resident at Glenfiddich Distillery
in 2004, she became fascinated by the black discolouration of
the buildings and trees around the distillery. This was caused
by the fungus aspergillus nigrum, produced when the alcohol from
the whisky is evaporating off during maturation. Borland links
this to the preservation of anatomical and biological specimens
in alcohol which also evaporate. The contrast between the black
and white saplings registers healthy and pathological specimens,
and signals the processes of decay within the body.
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