Target: Kaywin Feldman, Director of the National Gallery
Goal: Stop glorifying the portrayal of animal suffering in art.
The recent review of Joseph Wright of Derby’s painting, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, has shone a troubling light on the disturbing representation of animal suffering that has been historically overlooked. The painting, which glorifies a moment where a living bird is subjected to suffocation in an air pump, raises significant concerns about the ethical implications of displaying such works in a respected institution. The heart-wrenching depiction of a creature in distress, albeit possibly revived at the last minute, invites discussions around the portrayal of cruelty for the sake of entertainment and artistic expression.
The air pump featured in this experiment was designed for the amusement of spectators, with instructions that allowed individuals to place living animals inside, extracting air to create a false sense of death. This act of subjecting a creature to harm for mere amusement is deeply concerning and raises ethical questions about the responsibility of institutions to limit the glorification of animal suffering. The normalization of such experiments, even as depicted in art, can propagate harmful attitudes towards living beings.
It is essential that the National Gallery takes a stance against the promotion of animal cruelty, even in a historical context, by reconsidering the display of this painting. The demand is clear: public institutions must not endorse or celebrate actions that potentially inflict harm on animals, regardless of the intent behind them.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Feldman,
The exhibition of Joseph Wright of Derby’s An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump raises grave concerns regarding the ethical implications of showcasing art that depicts animal suffering. This painting, which presents an alarming scene where a bird is placed in an air pump, is inappropriately celebrated, despite its disturbing subject matter that implies cruelty for the sake of spectacle. The act of suffocating a creature—regardless of its fate afterwards—should not be something that is casually accepted or romanticized within the walls of a venerable institution.
The air pump used in these historical experiments was designed to entertain, allowing individuals to terrify onlookers by temporarily presenting a living animal as lifeless. Such actions not only desensitize audiences to animal suffering but also diminish the value of life itself, potentially promoting attitudes that condone the mistreatment of animals. The National Gallery should lead by example and critically evaluate the impact of showcasing artwork that portrays such senseless acts of cruelty.
It is imperative that the National Gallery acknowledges these issues and takes appropriate steps to address them. We call for this painting to be reevaluated with a focus on the ethical standards surrounding representations of animal suffering, ensuring that such actions are neither accepted nor celebrated in art.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Picryl
