SHERYL ANG
Their Companion
2019
Since young, we have been brought up to see animals in different ways. From labour to food to clothing and finally to pets, we continuously define their role in our everyday lives. Investigation into the culture and history of dog grooming led me to understand how our relationship with pets oftentimes involves a hierarchy of human autonomy over the animal’s welfare (e.g. selective dog breeding).
Their Companion aims to encourage responsible dog ownership and breeding by challenging consumer entitlement in the process of getting a new pet. The purchase process is re-framed from the dogs’ perspective, reversing the typical power play in this situation.
Details
Their Companion is a series of cards that encourage prospective pet owners to be more mindful of the considerations they make during the purchase process. Each pet will have their own completed card (filled in based on their habits, interests and personality), while prospective pet owners will be prompted to fill up their own set of cards at the pet store. These cards help to match the prospective owner’s personality and means to each pet’s unique needs and lifestyle. They can be easily incorporated into an existing pet store or visualised as part of a new concept store.
Process
This project was inspired by the evolution of dog grooming, from styling pets for functionality or fashion to dog breeding (the appearance of pugs as an extreme form of dog grooming). ​​​​​​​It made me question the beneficiaries of this grooming process, and the detrimental impact of irresponsible dog grooming/breeding.
The following images depict the issues I explored along the course of this project.
First image: Graphic I created to question certain approaches to dog grooming, where dogs are groomed to meet personal preferences rather than for their benefit (functional or practical concerns related to hygiene). Second image: Reflection on dog grooming and how it serves as an expression of the owner's identity. Last two images: Photographs that document my observations of the relationship between personal grooming and pet grooming (my friend putting on makeup, dog being groomed at a pet store). Do our pets serve as an expression of our self-identity?
This set of cards was created at the last stage of the project where I looked into the issue of dog breeding. I also created a book that aimed to question the evolving relationship we have with our animals (or should I say, pets). You may view the book