Output details

Between bodies: an artist’s account of the oral connection between human and dog

Context

The research in the chapter 'Between Bodies: An Artist’s Account of the Oral Connection Between Human and Dog' in the book 'Intimacy Across Visceral and Digital Performance' (Palgrave McMillan, 2012) analyses the effect of working in close proximity with domestic dogs in the author’s art practice and references the theories of Donna Haraway, Brian Catling and Kathy O’Dell, amongst others.

Process

The misconception of bestial intent within the author’s artwork Licking Dogs (see output 2) is a focus of this text, demonstrated through an analysis of the woman’s conduct as produced through the way her mouth, and its behaviour, are perceived.

The chapter 'Between Bodies: An Artist’s Account of the Oral Connection Between Human and Dog' discusses the complex range of anxieties and interests that can arise in the audience of an art practice that relies on the violation of companion species boundaries as seen specifically between woman and dog. It interrogates the various opportunities for misrepresentation and misrecognition of intent when this involves their mouths making contact and being seen to lick each other. The human mouth, articulated as a vulnerable orifice, is made the primary focus for interrogation of correct and appropriate social conduct in this research.

Insight

The notion of social and physical danger and being dangerous is discussed with regard to breed-specific preconceptions of dogs (the dogs in the artwork are from breeds whose mouths aggravate and exaggerate anxieties concerned with danger and dribbling) and the woman provocateur who performs as the active agent.

Sharing

As well as the chapter in 'Intimacy Across Visceral and Digital Performance' (Palgrave McMillan, 2012), another book chapter on this subject has been published in 'Mutual Dependencies' (Artwords Press, 2011; http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/4881/).