My present Visual Arts PhD research investigates animals’ perception of humans, and what we can learn about ourselves by considering their species-specific perspectives and reactions to us. I am interested in ethically exploring and documenting the aesthetics of human-animal encounters and representing the animal ‘other’ in a non-anthropocentric manner.

To achieve this I am suggesting the development of a Human-Animal Relational Aesthetic which is both species-specific and ethically sustainable. My artwork engages several pathways toward this outcome including interpretative biosemiotics, ethology, and exploring the pedagogic value of mimesis in visually simulating the animal through art-making processes.