About

Becoming Animal

 

Imagine what the world would look like without human animals. Imagine what creatures could come into existence when humans were no longer a threat. Imagine how the environment, how the world, would thrive without humans polluting the earth.

 

I am an avid reader. 

 

I am an environmentalist.

 

I am a feminist. 

 

I am an artist.

 

I make wearable sculpture. 

 

In my practice I explore the idea of our world being free from humans due to the virus and becoming a safe haven for all creatures new and old, extinct and myth. This is what brings my practice to life. By making wearable sculpture it makes me part of the new world as I can escape as one of the creatures, I can transcend beyond human. I can become-animal. 

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Animals & Women by Carol J. Adams and Josephine Donovan (1995) was a pivotal read and the theory: Sexist Words, Speciest Roots Dunayer (1995) was very influential towards my work: “When used to denote other species only, animal falsely removes humans from animal kind” (Dunayer, 1995) This quote from Dunayer’s theory really impacted the direction of my practice and made me question the worth of humanity. Is it all human animals that are the problem or only the majority? 

 

“Animals are noble creatures. If women achieve the status of animals they are lucky. To be an animal is an assertion of animality, vigour and vitality.” Rego. The Postmodern Animal, Baker (2000), is comprised of many theories, but this quote by Rego was most significant in my practice: it cemented the connection between animals and women.

 

“What else were we going to do but struggle?” Pamella replied. “It’s a choice between hope and hopelessness.”

 

“Some say the rich will feel the rising seas, too, but can you be sure they’ll be the last to get wet, by which time it will be too late for the rest of us. We can’t keep running in their hamster wheel.” 

 

These excerpts from the novel Talking Animals by Joni Murphy (2020) are very important to me, as it puts into words how I feel towards the world. It’s why I create art. 

 

These theories haven’t just impacted my art, they have also influenced my life. Since reading them I have become pescatarian, I have become even more aware of how I affect the world. My practice is to grieve the loss of our world, it’s to show the damage human animals have on the earth. It’s to show the distress and devastation non-human animals feel. My practice is to transcend beyond what I am now, to something more. My practice is to become-animal.