Portraits of Medical Mannequins

Justine Cooper investigates the intersections between culture, science, and medicine in her latest series entitled Terminal.

The title of the current show refers to her new series of large format photographs depicting medical robots and manikins. These sophisticated manikins, typically connected up to computers, simulate living situations from crisis to childbirth.  At a time when medical intervention can be so de-humanizing, when technology is criticized for removing us from reality, these images create a perverse inversion.The artist found that the personnel charged with the care of the manikins had humanized these objects into subjects by naming them, dressing them in holiday attire and constructing a narrative through their care. These million dollar manikins embody memories of daily life, offering up their injuries and procedures as rather austere visual diaries in the era of Second Life and the blogosphere.These portraits of medical mannequins seem absurd when taken out of the context of simulating a life-threatening situation.  Their exposed innards and machinery combined with those scared vacant faces lend a disturbing atmosphere to each portrait. They're supposed to imitate life, yet there's nothing really life-like about them.  It's what makes these portraits so unique and fascinating.Justine is also behind the pharmaceutical spoof Havidol.Take a look at the rest of her portfolio.Big thanks to Lars for the link!