“The question is not “Can they reason?” nor “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer.”
– Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), early proponent of animal rights.
This Body of Gethin’s work explores the commodification and exploitation of the dog, how beneath the animal loving façade of contemporary society there are evocative and thought provoking issues to be raised.
He has highlighted these issues by endeavouring to construct his work out of objects and materials relating to the individual predicaments, creating artefacts that suggest the concerns through iconography and symbolism rather than immediate and shocking imagery.
“The fact that they are unable to voice an opinion doesn’t give us consent to abuse, fight, or manipulate them. In our materialistic culture it’s easy to forget that although you may care for a dog, you may never own it.”
