SURROUNDED, THEY & US
2020

A project exploring the emotional relationship between the humanity and animals in the wild.

Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool.
After a long day in the National park one said: "I don't like it. It seems too easy, too artificial. The animals are so easy to find and to look at!".
STATEMENT

After the heartbreaking news about the death of the last male northern white rhino on 19 March 2018, Ekaterina first reflected on the human-animal relationship.

As part of her research, in September 2019, she went on an expedition to Namibia where she explored seventeen species of wild animals. However, the focus of the study was not on animals but on human beings.

The local population and the tourists have a very different perception of the wildlife, they have different reasons to be attracted to the animals, as well as the ways to coexist and connect with them.
For the locals, captivity might mean the choice between life and death of the animal, and the only possibility to protect it from the tribes, who in turn are protecting their livestock. The tourists also may have a very different view of these relationships.

During the expedition, Ekaterina spent one whole day in Etosha National park exploring people's behavior and thoughts towards the animals they met. The most curious feedback she received was from one of the tourists who said: "I don't like it. It seems too easy, too artificial. The animals are so easy to find and look at!".

That comment opened a new branch of Ekaterina's research – the role of the animals in human life. Are they simply entertainment? Are they a way to human self-awareness? How do they influence our behavior and our feelings? This is something you can understand only facing an animal.

The work "Surrounded, They & Us" doesn't judge humanity, but instead asks the questions:
What do we feel when we are surrounded by wild animals?
What do the animals feel when surrounded by us?

See all the elements of "Surrounded, They & US".
#1 Black Stone
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 31x30cm
Weight: 6.300kg
#2 Big Hugs
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic
Dimensions: HxB 25x24 cm
Weight: 2.670kg
#3 False Friend
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 17x15cm
Weight: 1.470kg
#4 Twin Brother
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 23x19cm
Weight: 2.280kg
#5 Blablaball
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 15x19cm
Weight: 1.375kg
#6 Wet Stone
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic.
Dimensions: HxB 16x16cm
Weight: 1.320kg
#7 Jumpy
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 21x23cm
Weight: 2.240kg
#8 Red Ear
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic.
Dimensions: HxB 24x24cm
Weight: 1.940kg
#9 Sweet Danger
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic.
Dimensions: HxB 20x26cm
Weight: 2.670kg
SOLD
#10 Big Warrior
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 22x23cm
Weight: 2.300kg
#11 Pelican Point
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 17x14cm
Weight: 1.245kg
#12 Horn & Bill
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 17x14cm
Weight: 1.240kg
#13 Ugly Five
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic.
Dimensions: HxB 20x32cm
Weight: 2.300kg
#14 Yellow Tower
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze, wool & acrylic.
Dimensions: HxB 47x19cm
Weight: 4.100kg
#15 Big Lady
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 21x26cm
Weight: 2.580kg
#16 Candy
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: 17x15cm
Weight: 1.750kg
#17 White Stone
Materials: clay, engobe, transparent glaze.
Dimensions: HxB 35x29m
Weight: 5.500kg
The anthropological study
During the research Ekaterina interviewed several groups and individuals:
- Namibian urban citizens;
- Himba tribe representatives;
- Bushman tribe representatives;
- Tourists from Italy, Netherlands and Australia;
- International people living in Namibia for more than ten years.

The scope of the interviews was understanding of the thoughts and feelings towards the wildlife. Ekaterina collected stories of peaceful coexisting and conflicts between humans and animals.

The work "Surrounded, They & Us" invites us to reflect on our own feelings when we connect to the wild animals.

In this work we find the personal experiences of Ekaterina that are presented in symbolic totems of the animals she saw during her expedition in Namibia in September 2019.
For any information please contact me here >>