Sacrificing Animals for Art
"Sacrificing for art" often evokes images of artists dedicating their time, money, and even their lives for the sake of their craft. These sacrifices create a poignant narrative that enhances the value of their work in immeasurable ways. However, in some works, the sacrifices are not made by the creators themselves, but with the sacrifices of countless animals. The process is cruel and bloody, far from being romantic and beautiful!
The vibrant feathers of birds have long been used in artistic creations, among which the famous Chinese art style of Tian-tsui is an example. "Tian-tsui" is a technique that uses kingfisher feathers in artwork creation. It is commonly applied in such crafts as ornaments, fans, and screens. Kingfisher feathers have a metallic blue sheen that shimmers in the light like sapphires. It is difficult to replicate such a colour with the level of technology in ancient times, so artisans resorted to using kingfisher feathers directly.
Kingfishers are difficult to breed in captivity and their feathers lose their lustre when they fall ill or die, so the feathers in Tian-tsui crafts were plucked from healthy, living wild kingfishers. This was an exceedingly cruel process, as the birds rarely survived after their feathers were plucked. It is said that only about 28 feathers from the wing tips and tail of a kingfisher could be used, which means that just a single Tian-tsui hairpin would have required the sacrifice of several, even dozens, of kingfishers. Tian-tsui craftsmanship was most popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties, during which the wild kingfisher population became significantly reduced. As a result, Tian-tsui art fell into decline and was officially eliminated in the 1930s, after which the kingfisher population gradually recovered.
Suffering for Being Beautiful
The markings on the wings of butterflies are vibrant, with a kaleidoscope of patterns. This phenomenon inspired the creation of "butterfly wing art", where butterfly wings are pasted together to create intricate designs and pictures. This art style is particularly prevalent in regions rich in butterfly species, such as in China and Africa.
Many of the butterflies used in butterfly wing art are sourced from wild populations. In some African tribes, butterflies are captured and killed by crushing their abdomens, followed by decapitation and dismemberment, to make it easier to harvest intact wings. In more developed regions, butterfly farming has emerged as an industry. The butterflies are killed as soon as they emerge from their chrysalises to preserve the colours and shapes of their wings in their best condition. In addition to being used as artistic materials, entire butterflies are also turned into specimens.
Artwork Stained in Blood
Being beautiful may bring suffering, but so can an unremarkable appearance. Elephants do not have striking looks, but they have been hunted for their tusks that symbolise "power" and "longevity". Ivory carving has a long history. Artisans employ their skills in producing awe-inspiring works, many of which are priceless. Yet, behind every piece of carved ivory lies the sacrifice of an elephant.
People slaughtered elephants en masse in order to obtain ivory. The process was extremely brutal and bloody, as elephants were often still alive when their faces were crudely cut open to rip out their tusks. The elephants eventually died while enduring prolonged agony. Although many countries have explicitly banned the ivory trade, illegal activities persist to this day. Ivory crafts have driven wild elephant populations to the brink of extinction.
Saving Them Rests on Consumers
Mongooses are another example of animals being "sacrificed" for human art. To produce high-quality paintbrushes from mongoose fur, it is estimated that up to 100,000 mongooses, including the Crab-eating Mongoose and the Small Asian Mongoose, are hunted annually in India. While mongooses are covered in fur, only 20 grams of the finest hair from each animal are used. The production of a kilogram of paintbrushes requires the sacrifice of 50 mongooses. Although the Indian government has established laws to protect mongooses from early on, it still failed to effectively curb illegal trade and related hunting activities.
From elephants to mongooses, it is evident that relying solely on government efforts to change the situation would be insufficient. As long as there are profits to be made, illegal hunting will continue, and animals will continue to suffer. In this market-driven society, the power of consumers is crucial. By refusing to purchase art or products made from animal materials, we can shrink the market. As profits decline, the practice of animal exploitation will naturally diminish.
"Without trade, there is no killing." Every one of us has the responsibility and power to ensure that no more animals are "sacrificed" for art!
