I believe art has the power to inspire people to consider their ethical stance towards nonhuman animals in the modern world. In my photographic series “Animalia,” the images portray play creatures set in incongruous circumstances. I use toys as a way to soften the subject matter when depicting animals as objects to be collected, bred, farmed or tortured simply for our entertainment.
My set up is simple; the toys are minimally lit and placed in antiseptic tableaux. The background colors are choices based on my personal history with an animal or animals.
Art and animal rights have not always been perfect bunkmates. On the wrong side of history, artists have displayed animals suspended in formaldehyde, killed thousands of butterflies, had dogs run endlessly on treadmills, cats thrown up stairs and videoed, and countless other offences. We do not allow animal cruelty in the movie business, so why is it allowed so enthusiastically in the art world?
It is my hope that in some way this work will inspire others to advocate for animals, whether it be in the form of volunteer work, donations to shelters or advocacy groups or just eating less meat.