©Anka Jaworska
Guests: Sara Kruszona, Olga Ormańczyk, Ada Flis
The dual nature of the dog figure
Animal subjectivity
Unconditional love
Ethics of care
Becoming-animal
Responsible adoption
When and where did we begin to befriend dogs? How is our shared history changing? Because it is constantly evolving—even in recent years, the pandemic has significantly shaped our lives. And what is this so-called “dog’s life”? It’s certainly not a neutral “canine” existence—the image of the dog in language surprisingly often diverges from that of a beloved best friend. How can we pay attention to animal subjectivity, and what does an ethics of care mean in practice? A bit about becoming-animal, and a bit about grief.
I like to think that my Mother gave birth to me into a different world than the one that eventually came to be. Not because I’m disappointed with it -let’s leave that aside. Besides, I’m not talking about worlds that are better or worse. When I found another package of her photographs – this time from when she was my age – I was struck by the life that radiates from them. And those dogs. For both my Mother and me, they have always been necessary companions in life. Talking to a dog is like talking to a god – somewhat in solitude, sent somewhere between the abyss and the sacred. The exhibition is built around photographs of two women and their dogs – self-portraits and archival images become a starting point for conversations about who dogs are and what we mean to each other.