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Harriet Smith Zoo Cage Owl Jae Jae Sleeping Tiger |
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Smith is researching the components of urban nature, through a focus upon human animal relations. In the city the virtual and material spaces of human animal relations blur continuously, and even in the zoo it takes concentration to determine if one is looking at a representation of, or an actual, being. To consider if we are consuming ideas of things, or things, whether we are relating to ourselves- a human to human discourse - or engaging with animal worlds.
Through a process of documenting and identifying both the actors and relations in urban nature discourses, complex narratives unfold making visible the human animal socials, within which the politics of conservation and caring are performed.
An animal, a photograph of an animal, a touched photo of an animal, or a drawing of a animal each present a question of how and where the animal exists within in the frame. Prompting a consideration of in what way the animal is lost and replaced by human representation of an idea of an animal. Further, if there remains evidence of animal presence then how does that presence speak through its momentary positioning as science, art, or sociology.
For the Purposes of The Future Of Art Is Urban she is showing a series of photographs and drawings, that invite a questioning of how image recordings restrict or enable animal agency. These images suggest layers of anthropomorphic feelings and ideas transposed both at the moment of making and the moment of viewing. The visibility or the invisibility of the frame is made apparent- so that unlike portrayals of animals made to look 'wild' we absorb the environmental influences that shape our engagement where present, and where isolated we are made aware of the animal as separated from its environment.
Photographs and drawings
Zoo Cage Owl shot at London Zoo Feb 2014
Jae Jae Sleeping Tiger drawn by Vera Ray age 11 at London Zoo March 2014
Through a process of documenting and identifying both the actors and relations in urban nature discourses, complex narratives unfold making visible the human animal socials, within which the politics of conservation and caring are performed.
An animal, a photograph of an animal, a touched photo of an animal, or a drawing of a animal each present a question of how and where the animal exists within in the frame. Prompting a consideration of in what way the animal is lost and replaced by human representation of an idea of an animal. Further, if there remains evidence of animal presence then how does that presence speak through its momentary positioning as science, art, or sociology.
For the Purposes of The Future Of Art Is Urban she is showing a series of photographs and drawings, that invite a questioning of how image recordings restrict or enable animal agency. These images suggest layers of anthropomorphic feelings and ideas transposed both at the moment of making and the moment of viewing. The visibility or the invisibility of the frame is made apparent- so that unlike portrayals of animals made to look 'wild' we absorb the environmental influences that shape our engagement where present, and where isolated we are made aware of the animal as separated from its environment.
Photographs and drawings
Zoo Cage Owl shot at London Zoo Feb 2014
Jae Jae Sleeping Tiger drawn by Vera Ray age 11 at London Zoo March 2014
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Harriet Smith is in her first year of a visual sociology PhD, researching environmental sensitivity in urban people, through arts based participatory methods focusing on human animal relations. Harriet also works as a researcher on a freelance basis for CUCR, and has recently conducted a research evaluation for a Marcus Coates community based project commissioned by Create London. Smith works by a process of sensory ethnographic observation and documentation, which she uses to develop art experiments aimed at researching human animal empathy and sensitivity in relation to urban environments. She has wide experience of community projects and art, as well as making films and installations. She has shown films at festivals in the UK and Europe, Baal Art Fair, and the Museum of Installation. She currently animal mosaics slabs, made with children and families, in situ as part of a play area in Victoria Park, London.
http://animalhuman.tumblr.com |
