Artistic encounters : the role of dogs in contemporary art

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to study how dogs are represented in contemporary art and what does this say about our attitude towards animals. The thesis examines how dogs have been portrayed in art from history to contemporary art, using various literature, articles, publications and videos. The work focused particularly on the concept of anthropomorphism. The subjects were William Wegman's and Keith Haring's methods of presenting dogs in their art. Additionally, the author’s creation of the thesis-related artwork 'Encounters' and the factors influencing it are considered. Encounters was exhibited in the Degree Show Raw of the TAMK Fine Art study path at Gallery Himmelblau in 2023.

The thesis reveals that contemporary artists use dogs as emotional, symbolic, and conceptual tools for expressing human concerns. Artists such as Wegman and Haring demonstrate contrasting approaches. Wegman uses anthropomorphism to question identity and autonomy through intimate photographs and Haring presents dog figures as symbols of protest and taking a stand. This study shows that dogs serve different purposes in artistic works. They can be collaborators, metaphorical representations of humans, powerful symbols, or bystanders. Thesis shows that people's attitude in contemporary art towards animals can be shifting from viewing them as symbols of human experience to recognizing them as independent beings with their own worth.