Do conservators dream of electric sheep? Replicas and replication
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Lawson, Louise
Cane, Simon
Date published
2016
Abstract
The paper crosses the boundaries between different genres, drawing on key material and emphasising the philosophical challenges around decision-making and values in relation to replication and replicas. In 1968, Philip K. Dick wrote the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which became the inspiration for the 1982 film Bladerunner. The book is set in Los Angeles in a post-apocalyptic future where mankind has left Earth, resulting in androids being created to develop new ‘off-world’ colonies. The book and film create a novel and interesting framework to discuss the subject of replicas and replication within contemporary conservation practice. Key themes are decay promoting replication, original versus replica, creating empathy in replication. The debate focuses on the case study of Naum Gabo's Construction in Space (Crystal) of 1937–39; which was the sculpture replicated in the most recent replication project at Tate, completed in July 2015.
Journal title
Studies in Conservation
Volume
61
Publisher
Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd
Place of publication
Abingdon
ISSN
0039-3630
eISSN
2047-0584
Official URL