![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ee9d6e306bb58ab9a3558233b14891579e92b3b8834a77943054cc1859c1989/01_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34039601c32a36821321a8e3255f20af03245c1032a99d8e14d9c9285cf31e5f/02_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/231a421c716bb47d29e5c447de942b45f76fde9a5edcfde22643e558d8e5e879/03_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ca9acd5e632f4e82d6e9c9a2246f64f1ea5dfcf68b47440b3c76f216dc7002b5/04_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6902e055d4550d0a2672ed7f1d138cfd21c204a594ee81bc48c471dfd83a30c4/05_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a0ae83f62b87482fc83700514cb8a72cce5be0d835cf1c0a3f6000b134a2ae2e/06_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a57c0cd6eaacad052a4f3dc873fd5e22dafba697e5977efb8d6a2702b5025f81/07_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ac1e2a5996546c10cf6469b1a3e264a19ffc6b360d17921776544a6dc13b4568/08_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/223300f9914e895504f4dd1cf4edeb261e7fb56e1f7c0446654e6806fa45738e/09_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e60a1797d6ab0c07060506901ecf2fdb1fbdd684d50edc4ea99672729f6a1eb/10_pig_organ.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4731e21501f0cd5fb8512b47c424475d185826741a4f288de8570aad461884eb/11_pig_organ.jpg)
Pig Organ
2011This installation uses a re-imagined "Pig Organ," a strange medieval musical instrument comprised of a "chorus of swine" poked and prodded to create "music," to consider the power relationships at play in cross-species organ transplantation. The organ is decorated with illustrations of animals playing musical instruments made out of parts of their own bodies and stands ready to accompany a soloist. The sheet music on the music stand is for the song "Give You My Heart" by Michael Kaeshammer, and its lyrics hauntingly resonate: "You wouldn’t put salt in your tea; They can’t imagine you with me; Well I know, it’s a strange combination . . . Who ever thought a plane would fly; Who ever dreamed or wondered why; We’re impossible, it’s incredible; That it feels so right . . . Maybe I wasn’t meant for you; Maybe you weren’t meant for me; But baby, I’ll Give You My Heart."
Carved wood, spring-loaded metal pokers, straw, music stand, hanging placard, wax heart
Photos: Will Arnold