Art Against Animal Abuse

Many artists have had strong views against animal cruelty. A lot of artists have tried to show their viewers what is happening to animals all over the world, not only by people neglecting their pets but by how animals in all industries are victims of cruelty.

'Chicken Nuggets' By Banksy – From ‘Banksy – Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill’ – 2008

Monkey By Banksy – From ‘Banksy – Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill’ – 2008

'Tweety' By Banksy – From ‘Banksy – Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill’ – 2008

I chose these three images from Banksy’s ‘Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill’ 2008, This gallery shows people just how badly animals are treated, both as pets, in testing on animals and in the manufacture of food. The name of his gallery ‘Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill’ relates to both these ideas. The idea behind Banksy’s “Pet Shop” is to educate people how animals are really being treated. In the first image there is a chicken with its chick, which are actually chicken nuggets. Bansky reason for this is to show how animals can be mass produced for the fast food industry. In the second image the use of props, such as the television and the junk food scraps relate to human behaviours. This refers to  how monkeys are used in research because of their similarities to humans.  The Tweety in the third image represents the unfairness of how confined pets are treated. The Tweety bird is seen drowsy, depressed and bare, as all its feathers have fallen off from its small and stimulating environment. The simplicity of the bird in the cage gets the message of animal abuse across as the bird is the dominant feature. Banksy’s way of presenting the idea of treatment of animals comes across in a quirky kind of way, to connect with the viewers in a way that the idea isn’t pushed on them.

'Jar & Caught' Angela Singer 2007 recycled taxidermy, mixed media

'All the Rest' Angela Singer 2007 recycled taxidermy, mixed media

'Caught' Angela Singer 2007 recycled taxidermy, mixed media

I chose these three photographs as they relate to how innocent animals are killed for unessersy purposes and because they are more expressive then the other images. In the first photograph, the use of the rabbits stuck to the window relate to how hunters hang the animals as if they were tropheys. In the second photograph the use on colour and placement show how the animals suffer as they are left to die. The bird is placed on the floor and is surrounded by media which resembles blood. The third photograph Shows a helpless animal with its insides pouring out as if it was an interesting scene. This shows how people treat animals for their own entertainment. Her idea is to show viewers, through the use of recycled taxidermy and mixed media, how unnecessary hunting is killing off many animals. Also she tries to dipict the horrific manner in which animals are treated once they have been killed, as they are left to suffer. Her work is very expressive and her use of colour and different media shows viewers the strength of her feelings against animal cruelty. It is made to question the notion that people are superior to other species.

'Hand and Hand' Mary Britton Clouse, 2007)

Nemo - Portrait/Self Portrait Mary Britton Clouse, 2005

I chose these two photoraphs as they show a more personal connection with animals. In the first photograph, there is a chicken foot holding onto a human finger. When i first saw this photograph i thought of a mother and child connection. This shows how people against animal abuse have a strong connection to animals. The close up shot also helps inforce the idea of how strong the connection is. In the second photograph there is a chicken held up to a human face. When i first saw this image i thought that it almost looked like the chicken was apart of the person. This is shown by how the eyes of both the chicken and human are postioned. Mary Britton Clouse is a photographer that has strong views against the treatment of fowl. Her photographs were taken to show viewers the connection between bird and human, linking chickens and humans by touch. Mary Britton Clouse has a lot of passion for her work with chickens, and through her art work she shows how close she is to her work of saving fowl.

'Animals are not clowns' Released: December 2007 Avertiser: Portuguese Animal Rights League

'Animals are not clowns' Released: December 2007 Avertiser: Portuguese Animal Rights League

'Animals are not clowns' Released: December 2007 Avertiser: Portuguese Animal Rights League

These three images are all similar but have different animals. I think these images share a more emotional view towards animal abuse. The use of the animals wearing clown-like makeup show how animals in the entertainment industry are treated badly. The use of the fence/cage in front of each animal inforce the idea of how the animals are locked up and treated with abuse. Also the use of close up shots make the images more personal as you can see the emotion in the animals faces. These three pictures are from a campaign by The Portuguese Animal Rights League to stop the use of animals in circuses. They ask people to stop supporting any circuses that use animals for human entertainment, as it is one of the cruel ways humans treat animals. They are kept in harsh conditions where they are starved, caged and mistreated to obey theirowners.

'Death fur sale' PETA Protest against designers who use fur

'SHAME bags' PETA Protest against poeple who by fur

I chose these images as they are a use of documentry photography. The first photograph show people pressed up against a window wearing fur coats with blood-like substance smeered across them. The use of this shows how people feel agaisnt the use of designers who use animals to make their clothing. The sign that reads “Death Fur Sale” which is a play on words to show people how the use of animals in this industry is wrong. The second image shows a group of women dressed in fur with bags on their heads which read “SHAME”. This shows how people who buy fur clothing should feel as they are supporting animal abuse by buying this clothing. PETA use documentary photography and protests to show their views on the cruel treatment of animals. This leads to put pressure on different industries to use a more humane way to use and resource animals.

By Zoë Rogers