# Shocking Animal Sculptures Patricia Piccinini's Frightening Hyper-Realist Artwork By jodie anderson | Published 2009-03-22 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shocking-animal-art-patricia-piccininis-hyper-realist-sculptures References: [patriciapiccinini.net](http://www.patriciapiccinini.net/) Patricia Piccinini’s controversial [hyper-realist sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/looks-delicious) received critical acclaim in 2003 when she represented Australia at the Venice Biennale. Hyper-realist sculptures force the viewer to respond to the artwork as they would to the presence of the real thing. Most of Piccini’s works are based on bioscientfic practices of the manipulation of living beings. [Stem cell research, genetic engineering, cloning](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unnatural-history-museum-of-singapore), bioelectronics, and technologically-mediated ecological restoration and kin formation are dominant themes in her work. Pretty freaky stuff, but it forces us to think about what it means to be human--or animal? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 100% | 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) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Hyper-realistic Sculptures:** Opportunity for artists and designers to create hyper-realistic sculptures that challenge viewers' perception of reality. - **Bioscientific Artwork:** Opportunity to explore the intersection of art and bioscience, using techniques like genetic engineering, cloning, and bioelectronics in creative expressions. - **Technologically-mediated Ecology:** Opportunity to delve into the integration of technology and ecology, creating artwork that addresses issues of ecological restoration and kin formation. ### Where This Applies - **Art and Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for artists and designers in creating mind-bending hyper-realistic sculptures. - **Biotechnology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for biotechnology industry to collaborate with artists and explore the artistic implications of genetic engineering, cloning, and bioelectronic technologies. - **Environmental Conservation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for environmental organizations to partner with artists in creating artwork that raises awareness about ecological restoration and kin formation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Almost-Extinct Animal Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fauna-series.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Human Embraced-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wallmounted-sculpture.md) - [Glamorous Artful Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-jane.md) - [Human Torso-Inspired Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lene-bdker.md) - [Biology-Inspired Porcelain Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shiyuan-xu.md) - [Insect-Inspired Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/insect-bronze-sculptures.md) - [Physics-Informed Digital Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motion-sculpture.md)