Why Look at Animals?

Why Look at Animals? is an exhibition drawn from the Arts Council collection, The Atkinson’s permanent collection and loans from public galleries and artists. “This exhibition is inspired by the work of one of the great art critics and thinkers of the 20th century. John Berger’s essay ‘Why Look at Animals?’ challenges the way we look at the natural world and continues to prompt artists to question how we see and understand other species. What does it mean to look at animals and what are they thinking when they look at us? Certainly our relationship with animals has changed dramatically over the last 200 years and this grouping together of many different artists’ perspectives will be thought -provoking and will encourage further discussion.” Stephen Whittle, Principal Manager, Museum, Gallery & Operations