Sculptural Prosthetic Limbs

‘… a prosthesis no longer has to represent the need to restore a loss; it can be a symbol

that the bearer has the power to create what he or she wants to create in this gap. People who were earlier seen as disabled can become architects of their own identity’

(Mullins 2009) ​

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These words were spoken by Aimee Mullins, an American double amputee and ex- Paralympian, and it was seeing her speaking about her experiences that ultimately

inspired this project. I am interested in art that, as well as being of aesthetic value, can work as a benefit to the individual or to the community.

 

I was following a thread of research around the idea of bespoke prosthetics when I came across Mullins and her ‘suitcase of legs’(Mullins, A (2009). She believed her legs should perform not merely as prosthetics, but also as fashion accessories suited to specific occasions.

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My practise explores the potential for prosthetics, designed and created on a 3D printer with the latest technology, made with aesthetic considerations in mind.

 

My work began with the idea of bespoke prosthetics which are perceived, both by their wearer and observers, as aesthetically pleasing objects, as well as being functional. As these ideas progressed and developed I began to envisage a sculptural prosthetic which would work visually, both on and off the body, created using a 3D printer.

 

The project culminated in the creation of a sculptural prosthetic in collaboration with a wearer who shares my vision. 

 

Here technology has enabled us to challenge the physical framework of the human body as a necessary container and value the new possibilities that may lie beyond our human form. The technology has also created the freedom for collaboration across the globe, with parts of the sculpture printed in Japan.