CattleheadA part of a series of 3 exploring the devastation of the Irish famine, this work investigates the stereotype of the drunken Irish. This labeling was used to justify colonial practices and rationalize the forced starvation of the Irish people by the British. I aimed to create a haunting scene with intense lighting, pushing my technical skills while also creating an unsettling energy between the figures. Cattle in Irish culture are symbols of wealth and strength. Its slit throat, messily sewn back on, is representative of the loss and trauma the Irish faced from the famine and continue to be impacted by. |