Exploring the Role of Non-Human Animals in Contemporary Art: As Objects, Matter, and Collaborators

Abstract

From the 1970s onwards, the presence of non-human animals within contemporary art has gradually become stronger. Animals have been involved in creating art installations, considered part of the artwork, or displayed as inanimate objects. This essay aims to describe three ways in which the individual lives and trajectories of non-human animals intersect with the world of contemporary art: as collaborators, objects, or as matter. Furthermore, the case studies pre- sented demonstrate the need for a temporary methodological tripartition based on animals' different positions in the various artworks. Ultimately, this essay sheds light on a largely unexplored IN history, revealing the complex relationship between non-human animals and contemporary art.