The Dog

The simple image of a seated dog is one of a number of works I've made which tells of an interaction between human and nonhuman that may be complicated in some way. The title of this work suggests the emotional distancing that may happen where the busy family's pet becomes nameless, like an inanimate object, often while also retaining the affection of familiarity in the shared space of the home. This image reflects my concern with the inconsistent relationship between humans and the nonhuman world, one moment reverence and closeness, the next, complete disregard. The decorative nature of the work, the simplified and stylised nature of the drawing on the carefully made panel, alludes to traditions of art image - Japanese prints and Indian miniatures, for instance - where all subjects are rendered with great elegance. It is a device I enjoy as a means of trickery to disguise and then sharpen the edge of the narrative.