In an era where technology, science, and genetic manipulation are evolving at lightning speed, artist Sofie Muller poses a confronting question: how far are we willing — and allowed — to go in our pursuit of the perfect child? Her powerful installation ‘The Clean Room’ is a poetic yet unsettling work of art that makes this ethical dilemma tangible for its audience.
'The Clean Room' made its debut as one of the thematic pavilions at the prestigious Malta Biennale 2024, the installation not only moved visitors but also impressed the jury. Muller was awarded the Crystal Falcon, the prize for the best pavilion of the Biennale - a well-deserved recognition for this thought provoking work.
The installation presents a sterile, clinical environment in which the visitor is confronted with objects referencing genetic selection, prenatal manipulation and the boundaries of human control. Muller's work raises urgent questions about ethics, human dignity and the growing societal pressure to strive for ever more 'perfect' children. It leaves no one untouched and encourages reflection on how far society is willing to go in manipulating human nature.
The Clean Room, detail. Courtesy Sofie Muller
The work is on view this spring at the Museum Dr. Guislain in Ghent, Belgium, known for its exhibitions addressing the human mind, ethics and social themes. The location feels particularly fitting for Muller's installation which seamlessly aligns with the museum's mission to spark conversation around psychological, medical and social issues through art and culture.
Anyone who has the opportunity to experience "The Clean Room" should not miss it. It's one of the most meaningful and relevant works of contemporary art today - an absolute five-star experience.
Main Image: The Clean Room, Courtesy Sofie Muller
The exhibition ends August 31, 2025
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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