Orthopedic Tree IV
Medium: Print, Giclee on Fine Art Paper
Dimensions: 16 W x 20 H x 1 D in
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The traditional symbol of orthopedics is the twisted tree that has been braced to grow upward and straight. First depicted in Nicolas Andry's 'Orthopedic' in 1741, this print is a digital collaboration with Tony Dungan. It showcases the magnification, addition, and subtraction of shapes and colors using an orthopedic hip implant. The background features the colorized porous surface of an acetabular (the cup) component used in hip replacement, where bone grows on the implant's surface, providing biological fixation. This serves as an example of biologically inspired industrial art.
The background is a combination of tubular metal and titanium mesh, which have both been used for bone growth in orthopedic prosthesis in the hip as well as in the knee.