TOW 21: Roles Reversal

Christopher Golebiowski, a Swedish artist, illustrates how things would look if animals had humans for pets. He shows this rather frankly, using exaggeration to raise the question: are what humans doing really just and humane? The audience, followers of Golebiowski or art enthusiasts, are forced to see how degrading humans can be to animals. We treat animals as mere objects that we use for our own entertainment and needs. Golebiowski uses bright, contrasting colors to make his point. For instance, he uses the color red to really emphasize the blood, the cruel and gruesome ways the animals are treating the animals. It draws the audience's attention to how humans kill and skin animals for food without much thought, and how cruelly humans mutilate and abuse animals to death just for the sake of doing so. Golebiowski personifies these animals, making them into butchers, owners who make their pets participate in dog competitions, and normal citizens who view animals as mere things that don't need respect. His purpose is to, ultimately, show the harsh reality of the way humans treat animals. It seems as though Golebiowski wants the audience to know what they're doing is not okay and to make them reevaluate their actions. He establishes his purpose effectively with these drawings, capturing the hearts and attentions of everyone who comes across his work.