Unlimited Editions
2022-2024
The recovery of endangered or extinct animal species, reproduction of beloved pets, creation of the ultimate sports horse or generation of livestock with desired traits. Since the birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996, the world's first cloned mammal, cloning technology has become a profitable industry to fulfil human needs.
Unlimited Editions
Unlimited Editions is a project where science and art converge to explore the boundaries of possibility. In this work, I dive into the world of animal cloning.
“It’s another soul but it’s the same thing.”
Interviews
THE PERFECT FRIEND
KELLY ANDERSON
Kelly is a dog trainer. She’s in her thirties and lives with her dogs and cats in Austin, Texas. Her cat Chai unexpectedly died when Chai was just five years old. Kelly was devastated and felt she was robbed of time with her cat. She went through a really dark period in her life.
Kelly suffers from depression. Chai was key to her emotional well-being and meant the world to Kelly. She has never experienced such a special connection with a living creature, before or since.
‘Chai understood me in a way that no one else ever has. We just connected.’
Kelly decided to clone Chai shortly after she passed. She had to wait four years for Chai’s clone, Belle, to be born. Kelly considers Belle and Chai two different individuals, both with their own characteristics.
THE MACHITO FAMILY
ROBERTO NOVO
Roberto is a hairdresser. He lives in New York City with his four French bulldogs. He named his first and favorite bulldog Machito.
Machito was incredibly special to Roberto and he decided to clone him while his beloved dog was still alive. Machito passed away at the age of fourteen. On the exact same day, Machito II was born.
‘I needed him for 14 more years.’
To Roberto, Machito II is the extension of his first Machito. They have the same character traits and they look the same. Machito II gave Roberto six puppies. Roberto will continue to clone his all-time favorite dog Machito.
THE AMERICAN QUARTERHORSE
RACHEL PRIMM
Rachel Primm lives in Collinsville, Texas. Rachel is a horse breeder and barrel racer. Although she did not grow up in a typical horse family, her parents took her to a reno rodeo show when she was only five years old. She became obsessed: ‘I wanted to be one of those girls in the rodeo.’
Her dream? To become the world’s number-one barrel racer. All she needed was the perfect horse. And she found him. Pepper: a world record-holding quarter horse.
Rachel and Pepper won a lot of races together. But then, two years after she got him, he was injured. It took over four years of surgeries and treatments before he recovered. Unfortunately, Rachel could never ride Pepper again. Her dreams for the future were shattered. She decided to clone Pepper. And so Poppy was made.
‘I felt like the story of my once-in-a-lifetime horse never fully got to be written.’
Rachel feels that Pepper and his clone Poppy have many physical similarities and many of the same character traits. She hopes that the storybook of Pepper can have a happy ending with his clone Poppy.
Exhibitions
Research
