Out of Sorts is a series that explores the chemical reaction which occurs during the use of polyurethane foam which, subsequently, greatly increases the volume of the material. The nature of this material has a resemblance to illnesses spreading throughout the body.
After observing the methods used by scientists at Derriford hospital’s pathology labs in Plymouth, I became inspired by the processes that aid the diagnosis of illnesses. The works part of this series follow the stages of the diagnostic process including; initial patient worry, post-mortem, microscopic analysis and creating tissue samples.
By following the methods which are used within the process of diagnosis, the polyurethane material becomes the subject of investigation and probing. The structure of the foam is exposed for analysis, similar to when scientists look at structure of the body to detect illness. This questions at what point does the body become consumed by the illness, comparative to the polyurethane foam consuming the sculptures counterpart materials.
Repetition occurs throughout the works relating to the spreading and contamination of an illness as well as the thorough testing carried out in the laboratory. There are moments of unpredictability that don’t always follow the pattern, just how illnesses can be cause by a component within the body being out of place or out of sync.
This series was created during my time as a 2016/17 graduate resident at KARST Gallery, Plymouth.
GEMMA MACKENZIE 
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