Angela Dieffenbach

Hirudo Medicinalis; Redon
earthenware, glazing
10.5 x 9 x 9 in.

My simultaneous interest in historical and contemporary health sciences has led me to consider faith in medicine and technology. Innovations and discoveries reveal not only new information on the human body, but expose flawed ideas and practices. Some of these revolutions challenge ways of thinking and make previously accepted ideas and treatments obsolete. Theses breakthroughs, while they may discredit established notions, bring new possibilities and exciting ways of viewing the body. It is this cycle of proving and disproving that I find fascinating.

Inspired by anatomy, the evolution of medical symbols, healthcare trends, and medicinal technology, my interests focus on the intersection of science and art. Through study of the history of anatomy in the visual arts and sciences, I have become fascinated with the role that artists play in the perception and understanding of human anatomy. I use the vulnerability of the body and its contingent relationship to the medical industry and science as an instrument of inspection.

As a result of modern medical practices, our bodies are becoming increasingly transparent. This transparency not only adds to the perceived omnipotence of medicine, but to curiosities of bodily exploration. The complexity of our anatomy leaves us with few definite answers; it is in this unknown that makes the investigation worth returning to.