The everyday.

I value powerful art, no matter difficulty to see, read. And despite sometimes disturbing nature, once understanding from other side. I see this scene with heavy heart. And I see in praised photography too many times. I think, what will one buy after leaving this animal? And what will one eat later in day, leaving this landscape? No being on earth has right to take life from other for self, enslave for self, to satiate self. Have we not learned this… Wherever our egos learned this, it will never be okay. We remove self from sight, we look other way. We tell self we care for pet - animal deemed worthy. We photograph beautiful beings, though mocking destiny. No reverence. But we are good in our heart, yes. Some say that is exploitation. We say we care for environment, I do not know if understood when saying care for environment. Over 80 billion animals bred, killed annually for human. Over 7 billion die from crop harvesting annually for human. The process kills not only innocent, but you, by resources taken, horrific conditions - playing large part in environment, air we breathe globally, you breathe.

“God says it’s okay.” I am an artist. You are an artist. God’s a magnificent artist, if one believes in God - a toucan and its vibrant palette. We learn to build bridges, roads. Beavers have built dams for over 7 million years, long before us, while swimming. Monkeys developed hierarchy long before us. Elephants know where loved ones die, will mourn in their passing through passage. Pigs make a home for their babies, and know when kin experience pain - neurons light up, as ours do when cringing at horror. Bird mates for life. And cow wants hugs, to feel your warmth. They are just like us. Sentient. If we give our art to another as God gave to us, told to cherish, protect, then they destroy, I think we would be devastated. Emptied.

Inspired by artist, Jo Frederiks.

Excerpt from
Meira for animals.