Humans & Non-humans
Artist Statement: As a photographer, I explore the world and search for patterns such as repetition in structures, colors in nature, or street life behaviors. Initially, I set out to the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, New York, with no intent at all. Through my process of photographing, I noticed a repeating theme between the visitors interacting with the animals. Eventually, I could not unsee that relationship - it was at every exhibit. Children chased peacocks and adults unknowingly taunted hungry sea lions. Coupled with my interest in psychology, I considered how human behaviors dominated animals. In the context of zoos, human visitors are rarely aware or stopped for their ignorant actions (ie. teasing, taunting, banging on glass) while the contained animals are psychologically harmed. The Making/Faking Nature course at Pratt Institute revealed my own arrogance and speciesist tendencies. I find it important to right some wrongs by unlearning the stories, experiences, and information from my childhood. When I was growing up, I read farm animal books teaching me what noises they make. Instead of teaching children that only mother cows made milk, hamburgers are cows, or bacon is pigs, we learned that cows go “moo” and pigs go “oink.” Therefore, I created a photo book in the format of a children’s book to replace the negative and incorrect stories. However, there were some beautiful moments of nurtured curiosity and learning. My favorite moment is shown on the cover and Hamadryas baboon page. A young Hamadryas baboon approached the glass of its enclosure to see two young children seated at the base of the viewing room. In an incredible exchange, the parents of both species watched nearby as their curious offspring connected. The rocks encircling the families make you question who is being enclosed and wonder what would the young ones do without the glass divider.
