We use them as industrial input (an estimated 112 million pigs and over 8 billion chickens divvied up annually in North American alone), we invite them into our families as pets, we exoticize, fetishize and anthropomorphize them through children’s stories, literature and toys. But for most of us, we take our fellow-travelers on planet earth for granted. They are backdrop, research material, here to be used in whatever ways we see fit, for good or ill.
A new exhibition at the Cornerhouse in Manchester, UK – Interspecies – wants to challenge this notion, not with moral outrage, but with communication. The artists in this show try to incorporate the animal’s point of view as a fundamental component of their work.
Kira O’reilly’s performance installation involved her sharing a mound of straw with a pig for two nights in the gallery. The performance was video taped and will be replayed for the duration of the show. Nicolas Primat’s contribution (Primat actually worked with primate scientists) is a film of himself being swarmed by a family of Bonobo monkeys.
The rather remarkable installation by Anthony Hall communicatively links gallery visitors to fish through their biologically generated electrical fields (electric fish). The bioelectric signals from the fish are used to trigger an “immersive sensory environment” for guests (see image) – through which guests can communicate back to the fish. Ruth Maclennan delves into the hawk’s perspective – of a falconer, of cityscapes, of prey. And Rachel Mayeri recreates baboon interactions with human actors.
We are, according to some, in the world’s sixth extinction spasm, which means that species of animals are vanishing from the planet at an ever accelerating rate. We can only suppose there will be consequences for the human animals for all of this, but getting to know some of the critters before they are gone seems right, just, even polite.
This is courageous work. Bridging the divide between human and (other) animals is something that should have been done O so long ago – say, before we put our time and energies into developing nuclear power and biological warfare – there is so much to say, and so much to learn.
Thanks to e-flux for the original story.
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- Gritty graphic novel DMZ looks into America’s dark future
- Artists Fiddled While The Planet Burned: Can Art Save the Planet?
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Interspecies – artists collaborating with animals
An exhibition, live event, symposia and family day at A Foundation London, Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, London, E2 7ES
2-4 October 2009, open 11am-7pm admission and all events free
http://www.artscatalyst.org for details and booking
How do humans and animals relate to each other? In The Arts Catalysts’ Interspecies exhibition and event, seven international artists have created a range of work that explores this complex relationship. From live experiments that allow visitors to communicate with fish to a video work that explores the age-old affiliation between falconer and falcon, Interspecies brings together a number of artists working with animals and explores the boundaries of our interaction. Curious about the animal’s point of view, the artists challenge the dominant human viewpoint and aim to work in collaboration with other species.
The family day on Sunday 4 October will give families a chance to see artists in contact with real animals – like performance artist Kira O'Reilly who will be Falling asleep with a pig, called Deliah, and Antony Hall whose Enki Experiment 4 invites visitors to communicate with an electric fish. During the afternoon, parents and children can take part in a series of free events.
Interspecies is organised by The Arts Catalyst in partnership with A Foundation.
The Arts Catalyst commissions artists and curates exhibitions which explore contested issues in science and society http://www.artscatalyst.org
Events
Friday 2 October
6pm, Exhibition tour with curator Rob La Frenais
7–9pm, Symposium: Non-Human Primates with Patrick Munck, collaborator with Nicolas Primat, Rachel Mayeri and Sarah Jane Vick, primatologist. Limited spaces, please book online.
Saturday 3 October
1-3pm and 3.30-5.30pm, Primate Cinema: How To Act Like An Animal. Two workshops with Rachel Mayeri for over 16s exploring the social dynamics of non-human primates through performance. Limited spaces, please book online.
2pm, Tour of ENKI experiment 4 with Antony Hall
3–6pm, Symposium: Animals, Humans and Power (BSL interpreted) with Antennae editor Giovanni Aloi, Photographer Karen Knorr, Helen Macdonald, writer of Falcon, Ruth Maclennan and Snæbjörnsdóttir/Wilson. Limited spaces, please book online.
6pm, How to Act Like An Animal performance
Family Day – Sunday 4 October
2–4pm Becoming Bowerbirds. These intriguing birds show unusual creativity – they construct bowers which they decorate with found objects to attract females. Children and parents are invited to be a Bowerbird for the afternoon with artist Sally Hampson. Advanced booking advisable at http://www.artscatalyst.org (Children 5yrs or under need to be accompanied)
2pm, 3pm and 4pm, Interspecies Tales by poet and storyteller Shamim Azad. Shamim's work uses aspects of the Asian folk and oral traditions, enlivening traditional stories with chant and body movement, poems, percussion instruments, tabla and songs.
4.30pm, Animal Handler’s Tales, broadcaster and trainer of the owls used in the first Harry Potter movie, James Mackay talks about his work as 'The Animal Man' with exhibition curator Rob La Frenais.
Admission free to all events. Accompanied children and families welcome. Unfortunately, dogs cannot be permitted.
Physical access to some parts of the exhibition and events is limited; please contact admin@artscatalyst.org for further information