Nel Gallery | Unbearable Heroes by Bonita Alice

Unbearable Heroes: Examining Our Relationship with the Non-Human World

Artist Bonita Alice confronts our fraught relationships with animals in her exhibition Unbearable Heroes.

Alice highlights the ongoing "oppression" of animals, arguing that our legal system treats them as mere "things," hindering their protection. She mourns the "enormous betrayal" of a past where humans coexisted more harmoniously with other species.

The exhibition's sculptures, crafted from discarded objects, symbolize the disconnection experienced by both humans and animals. These once-treasured items, rendered meaningless by death, reflect the disconnect between individuals and their communities, mirroring the gap between species.

The titles of the sculptures, drawn from historical travelogues, echo the dehumanizing language used to describe "foreign" cultures. Alice draws parallels between this historical "othering" and the devaluation of animal life, suggesting a common root in our desire to exert power.

A Call to Re-examine:
Unbearable Heroes is a powerful call to action. It urges us to critically examine our treatment of animals, recognize the harm caused by our actions, and strive for a more just and compassionate world for all living beings.