Utility
pets
Taking in account that pigs can be ideal pets, perhaps it is time to question
the idea of having animal farms to supply human spare parts. In organ
farms pigs would suffer the cruelty of battery farm treatment, a situation
at odds with our time.
I have imagined a scenario where the organ recipient has a close relationship
with the organ donor. The pig is taken home and given a good quality of
life until the day of the organ replacement comes. Suffering can be avoided
while animal products are produced. We can assume that the evil of factory
farming can be replaced with an enjoyable existence for the animal.
A new typology of objects has emerged within the Utility Pets scenario.
The objects were designed to investigate the relationship between the
person and the genetically modified pig that has been bred with elements
of the owner’s genetic makeup. The person who takes part in the
xenotransplant shares a special relationship with their utility pet. This
is expressed through physical objects as well as through the special care
that the animal receives. The designs proposed highlight an emotional
exchange, where both owner and pig benefit. The objects look at different
activities such as eating, leisure, addiction and the post-mortem of the
utility pet.
Perhaps the medium of design can offer a platform that lies somewhere
between reality and fiction where we can freely discuss how we were, how
we are and how we will be.
This object allows the user to smoke cigarettes in his/her home without creating passive smoke that would damage the health of the utility pet. This device highlights the negative effects of smoking addiction and the material result that xenotransplant could have on our lives. The owner doesn’t have to worry about damaging their health with cigarettes because there are spare organs ready to be used if needed.
This toy explores the dependent love relationship between the organ receiver (person) and the organ donor (pig). The toy contains a radio transmitter that communicates with a radio receiver carried by the person when not in the company of the utility pet. As the pig ‘oinks’, the toy transmits the sound to the person therefore creating an open channel between animal and person when they are not in the same location.
Pigs like television and have favourite shows. Some may have little temper tantrums or decide to get mad and ignore you if you shut off their favorite program. It is not uncommon for some pig owners to turn their television or radio on for their pet when they plan to be gone all day. The low resolution TV can provide entertainment when the pig is bored and can be activited by the animal itself as their presence in front of the TV is detected via infrared sensors.
It has been medically proven that a person receiving an organ transplant encounters the psychological apprehension of having a foreign body inside him/her. The organ receiver fears that the new organ has behavioural information from the organ donor. The comforting device functions as a psychological remedy for post operative side effects and can be used to comfort the organ receiver in his doubts about changes in his/her personality and appearance.
This service allows the organ receiver to request that the snout of his/her utility pet be preserved after the xenotransplant. The part requested will be contained in a clear cast box to be kept as a memento of the utility pet.
A table that has been designed to explore the ritual of sharing food with the utility pet. Obviously the pig is not a normal pet and therefore needs special consideration. With this table is possible to eat with your utility pet using the same object without alienating either the animal or the person.