Tad
My work, in the form of a 2D animated film, questions to what extent human beings can form mutually beneficial relationships with other animal species.
I had a pet bird that would sit on my shoulder. I considered our relationship a friendship, but I will never know if it actually was. I have no clue how birds experience the world and therefore tend to project my thoughts, values and morals onto animals. This physical touch is to me a sign of friendship, I assume my bird must have felt the same. The tendency to project thoughts and feelings onto other living beings is what this project touches upon. With this work I question to what extent we can form a connection with other animals that is mutually beneficial and free of harm.
The film tells the story of June, a 5 year old human child who has a great interest in nature and it’s creatures. When playing around a pond, he swallows a tadpole out of curiosity. He believes this will turn him into a frog. Soon, the excitement of turning into a frog is replaced by a feeling of guilt and anxiety.
June tries to make up to the frogs around the pond by showing them affection in human ways. This has a negative effect on the frogs, who become scared of him and abandon the pond. When June goes swimming to try and find them, he ends up drowning himself. Whilst in the middle of drowning June feels as if he’s transformed into a frog, and his frog body leaves the human body behind. Hundreds of tadpoles are then seen exiting June’s body.
The Research Document for Tad can be found here
For further questions, feel free to email me at achthoekig@gmail.com