Pedigree for Sale

Oil paint on board, 2014

In the contemporary era, the public perception of genetically modified foods carries a predominantly negative connotation. Paradoxically, this disapproval exists alongside the backdrop of a burgeoning consumer demand and market forces advocating for products that are 'Bigger, Better, Cheaper.' Consequently, food companies find themselves compelled to revolutionise their product development strategies to align with these escalating consumer expectations.

In this paradigm shift, animals and plants are no longer regarded as autonomous living entities but rather as mere 'by-products,' subjected to manipulations for enhanced transportability and aesthetic appeal on store shelves. The modern chicken, for instance, stands as a stark testament to this transformation. These contemporary poultry breeds are engineered to attain slaughtering weight within an astonishingly brief period of five to seven weeks, equivalent to the human age of eight months. The expeditious growth period results in chickens reaching twice the size of their predecessors, featuring disproportionately large breast meat to cater to popular consumer preferences.

If the prevailing trajectory remains unchanged, it is conceivable that farmers might cultivate squared chickens in the future to meet the relentless demands of consumers. Each painting's dimensions mirror the confined space allocated to a chicken inside a broiler-tunnel before reaching the inevitable fate of slaughter. The accelerated growth and weight gain during this constrained timeframe render many of these creatures incapable of supporting their own weight, robbing them of the ability to walk. This body of work seeks to illuminate the ethical and existential quandaries arising from the relentless pursuit of meeting customer demand in the realm of commercialised food production.