"What It's Like to Be Invisible"
Artist Statement:
When I found out that this project involved choosing an animal to replicate, I thought about how much I love dogs but knew that I wanted to choose an animal that is used either in the meat or dairy industry, an animal that is often exploited. I chose a Holstein Friesian because I was looking for the most commonly used animal, a cow, and wanted one that had a large udder to represent the way that animals used for consumption are being injected with growth hormones to produce more than they normally would. I searched hard for a vegan black bar of soap because I wanted the color to also be symbolic. The color represents the way that even though we, as humans, live on the same earth with other animals, we largely neglect to get to know who they are, how they think, how they feel, and what they want, while these are all details we place intense focus upon when it has to do with another human. The color represents the way that these animals are nameless and grouped together without any chance of using their voices. I intended for the black to mimic the image of a silhouette. Another aspect of the concept arose out of the actual process of carving. While I know that this is not a subject most people care to deal with or are aware of, it is a subject that is very close to the core of my being. I realized as I was carving that the entire process was representative of how much influence we can have in the lives of other animals. I was able to carve this animal into existence, while other people choose to take animals out of existence.
"Animals are here with us, not for us." - Anonymous
Materials: African Black Soap
Dimensions: N/A
In Process Photos:
Final Project Photos Waived
Artist Statement:
When I found out that this project involved choosing an animal to replicate, I thought about how much I love dogs but knew that I wanted to choose an animal that is used either in the meat or dairy industry, an animal that is often exploited. I chose a Holstein Friesian because I was looking for the most commonly used animal, a cow, and wanted one that had a large udder to represent the way that animals used for consumption are being injected with growth hormones to produce more than they normally would. I searched hard for a vegan black bar of soap because I wanted the color to also be symbolic. The color represents the way that even though we, as humans, live on the same earth with other animals, we largely neglect to get to know who they are, how they think, how they feel, and what they want, while these are all details we place intense focus upon when it has to do with another human. The color represents the way that these animals are nameless and grouped together without any chance of using their voices. I intended for the black to mimic the image of a silhouette. Another aspect of the concept arose out of the actual process of carving. While I know that this is not a subject most people care to deal with or are aware of, it is a subject that is very close to the core of my being. I realized as I was carving that the entire process was representative of how much influence we can have in the lives of other animals. I was able to carve this animal into existence, while other people choose to take animals out of existence.
"Animals are here with us, not for us." - Anonymous
Materials: African Black Soap
Dimensions: N/A
In Process Photos:
Final Project Photos Waived
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