# Offal Sculptures Mary-Anne Wensley's Grotesque Pig Intestine Art By Strawberries and Champagne | Published 2009-03-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grotesque-art-mary-anne-wensleys-pig-intestine-sculptures References: [thecoast](http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/gut-reaction/Content?oid=1088167) & [smu](http://www.smu.ca/administration/externalaffairs/artgallery/ex.html) The paper-thin substrate Mary-Anne Wensley uses for her sculptures could easily be mistaken for parchment, but no, Wensley uses a material that she finds both captivating and disgusting: dried pig intestines. By hanging out store-bought sausage casings to dry, the pig intestines are transformed into a parchment-like substrate. This material has been transformed into tiny houses for her *Brave New World* exhibition and a larger shed-sized building made from over 2,700 pig intestine bricks for Wensley’s current *Inescapeable Shelter* show. Wensley has no idea why she started working with pig intestines to create her art: “It’s almost like the material has chosen me,” she says. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 59% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Dried Pig Intestine Art:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring the use of unconventional and sustainable materials in art and sculpture. - **Parchment-like Substrate:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing new and unique materials with versatile applications in various industries. - **Grotesque Sculptures:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms to evoke new emotions and reactions. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art and Sculpture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating unconventional materials and techniques to redefine artistic expression. - **Materials and Manufacturing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring alternative materials for various manufacturing applications, pushing the boundaries of traditional materials. - **Interiors and Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating unique and sustainable materials in architectural design to create innovative structures. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Edible Dog Food Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juliane-fink.md) - [Human Embraced-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wallmounted-sculpture.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Tubed Immersive Organ-Like Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organlike-installation.md) - [Human Torso-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lene-bdker.md) - [Paper-Made Mosaic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-life-architecture-exhibition.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Sculptural Knitted Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-knitted-objects.md) - [Health Object Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/out-of-orifice.md)