Dominion – Carol Erb

Book #13 in the 11 + 1 series featuring the fantastic work of artist, Carol Erb! As with all books in this series, each comes with 11 reproductions and one original print (pictured) that can be removed for framing. Each book is signed and numbered by the artist in an edition of only 100 casebound books.

“Dominion” — the title for my series of images — refers to the Book of Genesis and its sacred “mandate” instructing mankind on the balance of power in nature.

Like many people, I grew up with a fascination for animals. Storybooks, cartoons, puppet shows; our culture fosters the whimsical fantasy that animals are our friends. The truth is much darker. Animals are commodities that we use for food, clothing, labor, and entertainment. Today, attitudes are changing, due in large part to the long campaign of animal welfare groups that have worked to expose and question our exploitation of animals.

In each of my images, an animal has been removed from its natural environment and placed in a human space where it does not belong. The longing to be elsewhere is clear from the animal’s confinement and expression. Faded murals allude to a history of domestication and the way we can often fool ourselves into thinking of animals as extensions of our own needs and emotions. These animals are not at home here. Nonetheless, there is a disturbing beauty in their isolation.”

-Carol Erb