Not like you (2019) – 29.7 cm x 21 cm – Alcohol markers on paper
This piece is for a 2022 exhibition at LiTE-HAUS Galerie, Berlin.
In the reference material for this artwork, I received a page from Newnes’ Pictorial Knowledge 1950’s Encyclopedia, about ‘monkeys and their ways’. The theme that has driven the direction of this piece is the reference that ‘monkeys resemble human beings more closely than any other creatures’.
The cheeky looking gorilla is sending a message to humans that comes in three parts. They are saying ‘screw you’ with the middle finger to human beings for destroying the planet, harming other humans as well as animals. The gorilla is also saying “Not like you” as in “I don’t like you” as well as “Not like you” meaning “We are nothing like you”.
This artwork has a humorous edge to a serious topic, human beings have placed themselves as superior creatures, yet do so many stupid things, cause harm to others and destroy our surroundings for reasons of hate, greed, fear, love and a whole host of reasons.
Monkeys on the other hand live their lives in relative peace and harmony and are perhaps the more intelligent creatures in reality.