WATCH: Taking sculpture by the horns… and semen straws

Saturday 08 June 2019

A sculptor, whose work involves placing elaborate structures on the back of live bulls made out of brightly coloured semen straws used to artificially inseminate cows, is exhibiting in Jersey.

Maria McKinney has been on the island researching the island’s cattle farming industry and the way its iconic breed has evolved.

This weekend, the results of her research project will be presented at the RJA&HS Summer Country Fair at their showground – comprising of a new series of sculptures and images relating to her work in Jersey.

The Dublin-based artist uses sculpture as a means of exploring ‘genomics’ – a biological field of ‘genomics’ concerned with DNA and how organisms’ genetic makeup works and evolves over time.

Video: A dairy farmer responds to Maria McKinney's exhibition. (Youtube/Maria McKinney)

Maria has been on an artist residency here as part of the Jersey Genome Project organised by ‘The Morning Boat’ – an initiative which invites international artists to collaborate with local farmers, fisherman, politicians, chefs, retailers and consumers to investigate economic, political, environmental and social issues which affect Jersey. 

Maria’s sculptures – which have been exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin and the National Ploughing Championships – are made from the somewhat unusual building material of semen straws. These are instruments used in to artificially inseminate cows and are produced in highly hygienic environments and come in a range of bright colours to distinguish between different kinds of bull semen.

In order to construct the elaborate sculptures which Maria then displays strapped to the back of bulls, she uses the now obsolete craft of straw binding which was once used to make corn dollies or harvest knots – intricate hand-made objects made as part of the annual harvest ritual.

During her time here, Maria has been teaching this craft to islanders and visitors to the Jersey Museum – where her work has been displayed over the last few weeks – so they can try their hand at making a corn dollie. 

She has also paraded through the streets of St. Helier with one of her new sculptures strapped to a Jersey cow.

Maria emphasises that all of her work is realised in consultation with a vet and whilst working closely with the animal’s handler to ensure that the cattle are not distressed during the making of or displaying of the work. 

The sculptor has been researching in collaboration with Jersey Island Genetics, the RJA&HS, the Jersey Cattle Society and Jersey cattle farmers to explore how the Jersey cow has evolved, looking at historical contexts and changing environmental and geographical conditions as well as more modern developments including the mission to introduce Jersey dairy cows to Rwanda so the locals can benefit from its nutritional value. 

Pictured: Maria's Jersey cow-inspired work will be shown at the RJA&HS Showground this weekend (Maria McKinney).

The Summer Country Fair is on this Saturday and Sunday (8 and 9 June) between 10:30 and 17:00. Entry for adults is £5, senior citizens for £3 and children and members of the society go free.