Institute of Art Design + Technology
Dún Laoghaire
On Show 2020
Chloe Mckeown

My work explores the human/nonhuman animal relationship. Within my work I utilise the apparatus of the animal agriculture industry, from milking clusters to artificial insemination rods, these tools all form the basis of the visuals constructed. I also use language as a material, the language used within the animal agriculture industry is extracted from its usual setting to a context that hopefully allows for more contemplation of its use. Transparency and honesty is a hugely important aspect of my work which is why I consider it important to make use of material that comes directly from these industries that are being investigated. I use these materials to examine the ways in which the bodies of non-human animals are objectified and commodified by the human animal. Within various industries the bodies of these individuals are pushed to their absolute limit in order to produce the greatest profit. Language and monetary value, both human constructions, are used to enforce property status upon these nonhuman animals allowing them to be reduced to their productive parts. My work aims to explore this destruction of subjectivity and individuality of the non-human animal and also aims to question the ethics of the objectification that this destruction of subjectivity seeks to justify.