Serra Bilgincan
Reptilia Cultivatus
2024
(Un)functional Sculpture, vest, helmet and assembling manual
Stainless steel, steel rope, polyester sling cloth tow rope, plaster, plastic, digital print
160 x 280 cm
Aslı Alpar's critique on the work:
Just as aerating the soil is essential for cultivating ideal grapes—a factor that influences both productivity and the taste of wine—walking among the vines compacts the soil, hindering its ability to breathe. Based on this knowledge that she gathered from vineyard workers, the artist designed an object that tills the soil as one walks, with the aim of creating a balancing force and turning harm into productivity. Functioning as an extension of the body, the design resembles a cyborg*. By synthesizing the current state of the agricultural revolution, mechanization, and standardized mass production methods with an ecological and cognitive
framework, the artist offers an alternative proposition for the transition of creativity from muscle power to brainpower. Inspired by cultivators used in the vineyard, the artist considers walking with it attached to one’s back as an active gesture. When not in use by the artist, this design transforms into a contemporary object for its users with an explanation resembling an IKEA instruction manual.
*A term used to describe beings that are a mix of biological and artificial human and robotic elements.
T. Melis Golar
