BEAST

Beast is a development from my earlier theme, They Think They are Fallen Angels, further exploring our relationships with animals and how we see them. The title Alien Invaders, although emotive, is a scientific term used for non-native species which make their home or establish themselves on our shores.  Non-native species may be detrimental to native ones by preying on them or even out-competing them for resources such as food, or space.  But both scientists and the public make value judgments which may be parochial.  My installation explores the attitudes towards non-human alien species and question how we would perceive them if we looked on them as individuals rather than as groups, or why we would prefer one species over another.  For example: why would we prefer a grey squirrel to a red squirrel?  Red squirrels were considered a pest with a bounty on their heads before the introduction of greys.  Is this a subjective preference for one species over another?  Would considering grey squirrels as individuals change our perception of them?

The installation Wolfpack is about our attempts to control nature.  Dogs and humans are social animals. We have lived alongside each other for thousands of years and have co-evolved together. Dogs have been useful to us as working animals, protecting us as watchdogs, and herding our sheep or cows. We have also enjoyed their company, and deep friendships have formed between humans and canines. They have entered into our mythologies. In recent times, in the west at least, there has been more attention paid to dogs as companions and family members in films, advertising of dog accessories, grooming, food brands etc. We tend to anthropomorphise them, and psychologists believe that when we see a creature as being more like us we often take better care of them.

Many of the dogs in Wolfpack display the attributes of human control as well as concern i.e. collars, muzzles, coats, etc. Our interventions produce many breeds as working dogs and companion animals, often with pedigrees which act as trophies for the owner, but not all of this control is in the dogs’ best interests. Breeders with little knowledge (or interest) of genetics have bred disabilities and defects into many dogs which cause them to suffer. 

However, when dogs get together they exhibit pack-behaviour inherited from their wolf ancestors. In spite our love of dogs as loyal companions, when they get the opportunity they are far more interested in their own kind.  Ultimately we fail in our attempts to control nature.

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