Animal Art

The field of animal studies is absolutely fascinating because it encompasses so many different disciplines. As an example, there is a recent exhibit in Philadelphia at the Seraphin Gallery entitled "My Dog Speaks: Animal Narrative in Contemporary Art."

What is so fascinating to me is the concept of narrative as applied to art. Normally I think of narrative as a literary convention but apparently in this show, according to the review, the concept as applied to animals is "generally more poignant, puzzling and dark than cute."

Animals of course are a common theme in art, but in this show, the human-animal relationship is front and center. A piece by Bonnie Brenda Scott, entitled Trouble at Hen House, is painted on actual target sheets for coyotes and portrays the hunter-hunted conflict in graphic detail. Likewise, sculptures in the show portray the toll the environment is taking on young animals including birds and fawns.

Even the pieces with a more obvious narrative bent are akin to "fairy tales gone askew or awry." It seems all is not enchanted in the forest anymore as the impact of the human footprint comes closer and closer to the animal kingdom.

The theme has been popular in literary narrative so it seems fitting that visual narrative should follow suit.