My project is about the connection that humans have with animals. I have explored the questions of ‘Can a person love their pet more than another human?’, as well as ‘What extremes will people go to for their pet?’. In my final piece, I wanted to capture the reciprocated love that a pet and pet owner share, as well as the strong bond that the two have formed.
I have produced art directed photographic stills, which aim to show and expose the relationship that people have with their pets. I did this through language on posters, which I made pet owners hold up in front of their face. I did this as I wanted the language to represent the owner, instead of having them completely in the frame.
After questioning owners on the relationship that they have with their pets, and receiving their answers, I created the phrases which were later used on the posters. These phrases were written as if the owner was speaking to the pet. My audience is not only aimed at pet owners, or people who once had a pet; it is also aimed at people who maybe can’t have pets, have never had a pet, or even those who don’t like animals.
I want to communicate the unconditional love that owners experience with their pets, and to give an insight into their relationship. Throughout this project I learnt that it is very normal for people to have strong connections with animals, and sometimes even more so than with another human. It is such a pure relationship of true love, and one where the human and animal almost always benefit emotionally.
Exploring the relationships that humans have with animals, and exposing the bond that I find owners have with their pets. Whilst witnessing multiple relationships of unconditional love between pets and people, through language I give an insight into this connection that they share.