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DanielKarlsson In reply to Eyestrain [2011-09-24 21:05:34 +0000 UTC]

In swedish there is an expression, "modelejon", which means "fashion-lion" in english. A "fashion-lion" is someone who is on the edge fashionwise and flaunts it alot. So this painting is kinda of a wordplay and it goes with the animal-related theme I'm trying go for in my next exhibition.

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Eyestrain In reply to DanielKarlsson [2011-09-24 21:56:58 +0000 UTC]

Ahh, interesting phrase. I like making animals 'human' or visa versa so that we can look at 'normal' things in a different way. Picturing an animal acting like we do seems crazy, but humans are animals too, aren't we?

Is the way I think about things. Thanks for teaching me some Swedish

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DanielKarlsson In reply to Eyestrain [2011-09-24 22:24:41 +0000 UTC]

Well, my idea for my next exhibition(also my second one) is the animal theme, and mainly focusing on word-plays like this one as well adding human-behaviour to animals and vice versa. This is an idea I had brewing for a while(don't steal it, haha!): You know how a cat cleans itself? I'd take that and put a woman in there instead. And to make a twinpainting to that, I'll take the dog-behavior of licking it's own balls but with an old man instead. Not only is it cat and dog as opposites, it's also the male-female twist in there. Or to be less stereotype I´d give the female the dogbehavior and the male the more posh and classy catbehavior, hahaha!
Also, I'm thinking of naming the exhibition/collection "Animal Rites", kinda of a wordplay(as there are such already in the paintings as well) on "animalrights" because it's always current but and also because there are sort of animalistic rituals in the collection. What do you think?

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Eyestrain In reply to DanielKarlsson [2011-09-26 21:02:48 +0000 UTC]

Hmm, I hadn't thought of making humans into animals like that.

I think my favorite message to send to humans is "You are an animal, and that's a good thing", since I think many humans look down on animals and natural behavior as being stupid (as if our 'civilized' behavior wasn't just as bizarre).

I'll be interested to see what you make, and whether or not people will understand your message (instead of being distracted by the sexual connotations of licking).

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DanielKarlsson In reply to Eyestrain [2011-09-26 21:45:20 +0000 UTC]

Hmmm... Yeah, we all have instincts which we tend to supress because they are not suitable for the standard we have set in today's civilised society. While I think that ignoring or denying these more primal instincts and natural behavior is wrong, I also realise that what makes us human(and transcended from animal) is our ability to shape our world and how we live in it. We create culture to enhance and refine certain aspects of the natural animalistic sides, like sexual rituals, fashiondesign and food. But we also do the same in order to supress other parts that are less desirable.
We are gifted and cursed with imagination, through which we can add anything to any experience and thus altering it from what it really is. Some people take a shit and that's all there is to it because it's something natural. Others take a shit and are ashamed of speaking of it, because it's "something you just do not do". Then of course there are people who shit on others for sexual pleasure, which also is an example of how we add to the experience through our mind/imagination.

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Eyestrain In reply to DanielKarlsson [2011-09-28 15:04:08 +0000 UTC]

You're very right about imagination, I hadn't thought of it that way before.
I think that's one of the greatest differences between man and animal. It frustrates me that we can get so lost in that imagined meaning that we justify glorifying ourselves as gods or demons when all we are is human, just another creature on the face of the earth. Maybe some animals do this too? But I'm not sure I've ever heard of such a thing.

Thanks for sharing your unique thoughts

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DanielKarlsson In reply to Eyestrain [2011-09-28 22:44:27 +0000 UTC]

Well, thing is, because we have the ability to think in abstracts we ask things like "how" and "why" so that the information can get sorted in our minds. What is the meaning of something/everything? Animals don't do this. They observe and react. They are driven by impulse related to their needs and instincts. So are we as well, but we reflect on the meaning of why we should or shouldn't eat something. An animal does not. Because we have asked ourselves these questions, we have developed beyond creature/animal but it's also something that gets in the way of the beauty of simple things that don't always need to be questioned and understood. We rule the earth because of our intellect, but it's also what makes us suffer. You don't see animals getting depressed like humans do and neither do you see them being anorexic. They do, however, fight for territory which we do as well. They fight for food as we used to do once, now it's more about pride, greed and envy. Human emotions that are fueled by the abstract-thinking mind.
Sorry for ranting... It is interesting.

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Eyestrain In reply to DanielKarlsson [2011-09-29 04:35:46 +0000 UTC]

I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. You've a very clear perspective and I feel like I've learned something, or maybe just re-learned something I knew but lost sight of. Even though I think about the difference between animal and man often, I don't think I could write so clearly about it.

The abstract-thinking mind... A blessing and a curse. I am happy we make art. But I'm upset over how twisted our ethics can become. It's a double edged sword.

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DanielKarlsson In reply to RavinWood [2011-09-24 21:06:30 +0000 UTC]

Haha... No, it's a wild fashionista!

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