SYNOPSIS

Animal in Man, not just a metaphor in art

"Life is life--whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The
idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage..."
-- Sri Aurobindo, poet and philosopher

Guide Teacher: Dr Manisha Patil

Class Teacher: Prof. V.D.Sabale

Submitted By:
Shanthi Kasiviswanathan
Sir J J School of Art
BFA Final Year 2013
Roll No. 13

1
Introduction
Man and animal have had very close associations from the beginning of time. Before civilisation,
cave people lived like animals, hunting and foraging for food just like animals. We were part of the
nature’s food chain. The cave drawings and paintings reflect this – we see hunting scenes, drawings
of wild animals, boars etc.

Then came the tool age and civilisation when man discovered that in addition to hunting animals for
food, they could be trained to help man in farming, transportation and even provide entertainment
(cock fights, bull fights). Once again art reflected this – the seals of Harappan civilisation.

The ancient civilisations of India and Egypt gave prominance to animals by worshipping them as
Gods, acknowledging and admiring their individual powers.

Then man started bringing some animals like dogs, cats, mice, birds etc into his home. They became
family members, status symbols (celebrities with their poodles) etc. Movies were made celebrating
the love between man and animal – Haathi mere Saathi, etc

Man’s relationship with animals has evolved from

Dominion -> Domestication->Devotion ->Defence

Dominion: Hunting animals for food,

Domesticaton: use of animals as partners in labor

Devotion: worshiped as forces of nature, affection as integral part of our family and daily life

Defence: An acknowledgment that we belong to the same ecosystem, that our survival depends on
their survival.

These stages overlap each other and are not necessarily mutually independant

Finally man has come full circle ie back to the beginning of time from when we as cave men, were
part of nature and did not question the natural order of the ecosystem. We now recognise that it is
only by respecting our place in the animal kingdom, can we restore balance in the ecosystem and
ensure the survival of our race.

2
Objectives of the study
The main objective is to show that ‘there is animal in man’ and this finds expression in the work of
artists consciously or subconsciously.

1) Man and animal share the same genetic make-up

2) Men and animal experience common emotions
3) Animals have their unique language for communication
4) Like man, some animals form a social structure
5) Man behaves like an animal under stress
6) Man has always looked to an animal to understand himself

Methodology
Primary Research:

Interview with artists

Secondary Research:

Research articles and journals in the field of science, psychology, behavioural science, religion and
art

Artists Covered
Indian Masters: M.F Husain, Tyeb Mehta, R.B Bhaskaran

European Masters: Picasso, Chagall

Indian 21st century young artists : Prashanta Sahu, Srikanth Khairnar, Komal Ullal

Foreign 21st century young artists : Kiki Smith, Marc and Gillie Schattner

Hypothesis
Art at its foundation is a search for the self and self identity finds its expression in an artists work.
This search for self identity reconnects the artist back to nature of which he/she is an integral part.

Hence I propose to show that when an artist depicts an animal in his work, at a conscious or
subconscious level, it is a depiction of the self or a human being.