by Anna Buhler
The “Am I Cute Enough?” poster series challenges our speciesist perception and categorisation of animals based on factors such as cuteness or popularity. This becomes very obvious in the comparison between wolves and their closest genetic relatives, dogs. The two species are only distinguished by 0.1–0.2% of their DNA. And yet, while the dog is regarded as a loyal companion, the wolf is often seen merely as a brutal beast.
In the photorealistic collages, the two species are visually merged to highlight this contradiction. The head of a wild wolf is merged with the body of a neatly groomed poodle to create a hybrid creature depicted in various scenes with dog accessories. This unsettling visual language highlights the discrepancy in our perception and raises questions about the criteria we use to determine the protection, value, and fate of animals. The hashtag #KeinSchussAufWölfe refers to a fictional petition against the inclusion of the wolf in hunting legislation, raising awareness of the issue.
