Provocative Artwork Reverses Roles Between Humans and Animals

Vic Bishop, Staff Writer
Waking Times 

One of the most effective techniques psychologists use in conflict resolution is role reversal, which helps people to see the other’s perspective and to empathize with them. Empathy is something that is seriously deficient in our modern world, especially when it comes to the treatment of animals.

From factory farming and concentrated animal feeding operations, to big hunting and ivory poaching, to ocean bottom trawling and dolphin slaughters, to the incineration of rainforests, animals in general have a tough lot here on planet earth with all of us humans.

Art in our culture often fills the role of devil’s advocate, helping us to see things which may be right in front of our eyes but that we refuse to acknowledge. Artist Barbara Daniels uses her artwork to help us see the truth about our relationship with animals, and her drawings and paintings are insanely captivating.

From the artist, Barbara Daniels’ website:

Imagine our modern society with the roles of humans and animals reversed. What would it look like? How would it feel to be dominated by another species? My current artwork strives to answer these questions, drawing inspiration from real world situations and events.

The idea of exploring our relationships with animals through role reversal evolved from a sketch on a napkin in a Strasbourg Café. After moving from California to Berlin in 2013, it became my primary artistic focus and led to the creation of the painting “Happy Farms” and the ongoing series “Dominion over Man”. [Barbara Daniels]

Her most revered painting is called, ‘Happy Farms,’ and is shown in detail in the following video:

Here is a sampling of some of her illustrations. All images are copyright of Barbara Daniels Art 2017.

Please visit her website, BarbaraDanielsArt.com, or check out her Facebook page, here.