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Commissioned by the Science Museum for the 'Faith, Hope and Fear' gallery in Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries. The sculpture is a portrayal of the artist, actor and model Rick Genest, known as ‘Zombie Boy’. Following a brain tumour in his teens, Genest started to have anatomical images tattooed onto his body. Many are by tattoo artist Frank Lewis. Genest is portrayed holding a medical anatomy book, the cover featuring some of the most famous anatomical images ever produced: from Vesalius' 'On the fabric of the human body' published in 1543. The book that Genest holds is inscribed with text by Quinn. During the creation of this sculpture, Rick Genest unexpectedly died at the age of 32. This artwork stands as Marc Quinn’s tribute to his life.

Science Museum

London

Title

Self-Conscious Gene

Date

2019

Medium

bronze

Measurements

H 600 x W (?) x D (?) cm

Accession number

E2018.0887.1

Acquisition method

on loan from Bronze Orchid Ltd

Work type

Sculpture

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