Repairing RNA

A RNA gel from a pregnant woman and her child is the central image of this work. This RNA test, provided by Geneticist, Cary Rue of OSHU, was performed to research the diseases the child may inherit from the mother.

”Repairing RNA” acknowledges that for the first time geneticists can map individual human identity and the anomalies that make up each of our bodies. Repairing genetically inherited conditions is currently being researched and may be possible to achieve in the near future.

In this work I am literally repairing the gel, duplicating the image, and fabricating the make up of the image of the gel. I chose to randomly sew onto certain elements thus mimicking the act of reading these gels in which some pieces of information are more important than others.

The original photograph of the RNA* gel was a 1” x 6” digital image. I enlarged and duplicated the image onto a shear silk-like material so it resembles the translucent film of the gels.  The RNA image was reproduced using a dye sublimation printer, and then hand dyed with watercolor. I stretched the image on to the 16’ embroidery loom to further exaggerate the reproduction of the image. The embroidery loom is inspired by similar structures used in Southeast Asia for embroidery production. Women would work as a group at large tables continually sewing, never needing to get up because the threads were over head.  The act of sewing is both laborious and meditative. Women have engaged in this seemingly endless task for centuries.  Around these tables the stories of birth, life, growth and repair have be told throughout time.

In this work I hope to address medical ethics and miracles of our day. Because of my own experiences of infant loss as a result of genetic conditions, I am compelled to attempt this symbolic repair. This is done by directly using the medical information on textiles and sewing into them in the manner of traditionally embellishing textiles.

* RNA is the set of proteins in our bodies that reveal genetically inherited diseases and our propensity for certain diseases. This research reveals the presence of Herpes in the mothers and child’s RNA. Herpes is the only viral disease that become hereditary or a genetic disorder.

Geraldine Ondrizek