Bobby Calves - waste products of the dairy industry

“Farm animals are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined and, despite having been bred as domestic slaves, they are individual beings in their own right. As such, they deserve our respect. And our help. Who will plead for them if we are silent? Thousands of people who say they ‘love’ animals sit down once or twice a day to enjoy the flesh of creatures who have been treated with so little respect and kindness just to make more meat.”   

Jane Goodall

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/dairy.php

A light in the darkness

This is a very quick illustration that I did last week.  I am sending it as a 'thank you' to the diving team of the resort I visited recently.

It struck me that there is a real reverence for the ocean and its inhabitants in so many people. 

Death at Seaworld

This is a recent collage featuring the subject of cetaceans in captivity.

I obtained official Seaworld postcards, flags and stamps and used them with images of books and films that feature the not-so-well-known side of the captivity industry.

A fall from freedom examines how the corporate giant, Seaworld, obtained a lot of their 'stock'.

Death at Seaworld is a recently released book on just how Seaworld manages it's assets, for ultimately, that is what the captive cetaceans are.

The Seaworld products on the collage give a hint at the commercial side of what the corporate giant does.  This is balanced with the covers of the above productions showing the viewer that there is another side to the activities of any marine park.  There is also a photograph of an Orca swimming free in the ocean beside a sticker which boldly states "Shamu's Happy Harbor".

The work is surrounded by a quote from Jacques Coustea.  It says simply, No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea, and no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or those marine lands can be considered normal"

Reactions to 'Fergus McIver'

Wow, this illustration has opened up a hornets nest of reactions.

I get the impression that some of the audience think I actually made up this image and thoroughly enjoy illustrating the pain and torment some animals go through at the hands of us humans.

This is what is so powerful about art.  I referenced this image, the quote and the information from newspapers.  The ironic result of putting these ingredients together is purely to make the viewer consider their opinion on jumps racing.  My only personal statement was RIP because yes, I do think it's sad that such a beautiful young horse, died in such a way.

For the record, I actually intensely dislike some of the things I'm coming across in research as part of this project.  But if I ignore them, does that make them go away?  I have felt often that the subject is too hard and it has made my decisions on final works (rather than the background illustrations) very tricky.  Who wants to look at horror (because that's what some of this stuff is) on a gallery wall? 

My final works will be nothing like the illustrations.  My conviction was correct in that regard.

When this project concludes, if I have changed even one person's behaviour towards how they act and consume and how it impacts on the other earthlings we share this planet with, then I will have succeeded.

I could take the  "sick f*%*"  comments personally but I don't.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and beliefs and I respect that. 

If you don't like an image, ask yourself why?

Coalition for the protection of Racehorses

Why do Victoria and South Australia still allow jumps racing?

Heritage Hill Public Art project and more

My work, 'Her home is in the ocean', was one of the four artworks chosen to be represented outside the historic Dandenong property, Heritage Hill.  The original will not be displayed but instead, images of sections of the work.  A prominent part is the title in Japanese script at the bottom of the right hand side of the canvas. 

I've had some dialogue with Animals Australia and I'll be using some of their campaigns as a feature in both my illustrations and the final paintings and artwork.  Thanks to Sarah Evans at Animals Australia for her help.

I'm also going to be featuring the Australian horse racing industry in my work.  This will help raise awareness about what happens in this industry.  Some of the realities of this industry are quite eye-opening and dare I say, brutal.  I can't believe that I used to think nothing of participating in sweepstakes for 'the race that stops a nation'.  Jump racing is even worse.  As a rider and lover of horses, I find it heart breaking to see such magnificent animals as mere commodities.

On the practical front, I'm experimenting with other mediums which are producing enjoyable results, particularly collage and ink.  I'll post some images at a later date.

Official Save Japan Dolphins Australia Logo

I should have posted this some time ago.  It's a sticker for the Australian chapter of Save Japan Dolphins Australia.  I designed the logo and it is based on the official SJD logo.