“Human Use” Mathew George Acrylic on Canvas

“Human Use” Mathew George’s CreativeRationale:

Art changes people's opinion on an issue because art helps provide information and is able to provoke your emotions. Protesting physically somewhere is not an option that is available everywhere but I think creating art on an issue that is important to you is something that is a unique way for anyone to express your opinion.

The purpose of my work is to persuade other people to boycott companies or brands that use animal testing and I also want people to acknowledge that animal testing is not a good thing and use their agency to support this issue. Some companies that I do not use because of animal testing are L’Oreal, Calvin Klein, Burberry and Dolce and Gabanna. Some companies I use that don't use animal testing are Body Shop, Lush and Dove.

During this unit I have seen, read and researched various protests such as the BLM protests, the farmers protests and the Hong Kong protests. People can protest by using their social media platform to spread information, by making a painting on a certain issue, creating poems, posters, infographics and by protesting physically somewhere. Protests are for people to express their own opinion to the public to make themselves heard, maybe to change a law or something or some issue. Civic responsibility means the active participation in an issue.

The social issue of animal rights/animal testing is important to me since animal testing is something that is usually not talked about in media and is something that is still happening to make various products such as makeup and medicines. I chose to use my agency and voice using acrylic paint on a canvas to create a painting because I think paintings are very eye opening and are able to persuade people to believe in your issue and try to do something to help this issue.

Creator: Mathew George Title of work: Human Use Media: Acrylic on Canvas Issue/Theme: Animal testing