"We expected the executioner's axe to fall at any moment, but the truth was we would die ignorant and enslaved." -Isle of Dogs
Compared with our more dexterous primate cousins, humans have been able to utilize superior intellect, modern medicine, and technology to significantly extend our lifespans. Through natural selection and survival of the fittest, mankind has come to dominate the Earth, taking and exploiting the natural habitats of other animals in our self-interested quest for more living space. And now, after we have driven others to extinction, extreme climate caused by global warming is striking back at us, and ironically, it appears that nature may have the last laugh.
"Nobody's giving up around here, and don't you forget it. Ever."
-Chief "Isle of Dogs"
Renowned American director Wes Anderson's stop-motion film "Isle of Dogs" is true to its name, featuring dogs as characters and subjective narrators. Behind the imaginative story is an exploration of humanity's habitat, and reflection upon our actions. Telling the tale of a boy's efforts to rescue his dog, viewers are treated to a cutting yet non-preachy metaphor for the ways we try to sugarcoat and justify our destructive struggles for domination. Conservation, racism, classism, chaotic media, strays… Anderson utilizes these topics in his trademark humorous style, challenging and poking at the system through a roundabout cautionary fable.
Looking at me? I'm inspecting you too.
As one of cinema's great auteurs, Anderson's distinct visual style and color palette leaves an easily recognizable mark on his creations. Likewise, Daniel Sueras Fanjul's anthropomorphized animal portraits - complete with bourgeois taste in fashion and lifelike expressions - have become a distinct trademark of his, drawing us in as if a distorting mirror, planting a seed of doubt in our minds: aren't people just animals with a different appearance? In comparison to other species, what exactly have we contributed? What have we taken from them? Despite being the self-proclaimed masters of dominion, only a thin line separates the noble human from our animal nature.
Moral depression underneath exquisite frames Suits and leather, round-frame glasses, fancy crowns, retro mosaics, Prussian blue, light yellow, light pink… like Anderson, Daniel has an affinity for nostalgia, demonstrated by the old-school serene composure of a hipster seen in their protagonists. Further strengthening the coherence of theme in each work is Daniel's painstaking effort in collecting old items from bazaars and frames from antique shops, favoring those with a sense of age and grandiose baroque style. Sometimes he works in reverse, allowing the frame to determine composition for a portrait. Each painting is a stage showcasing humor and whimsy, and as we enjoy his body of work, it's like flipping through a colorful book of fairy tales that encourages us to ponder: in a world dominated by flashy packaging and lofty titles, computer windows and cell phone screens, are we becoming narrower in our never-ending pursuit of sophistication? Are we losing respect for the world and life?
The universe is a gigantic puzzle, in which everything has its place, naturally making its way forward. A single piece in the wrong place, no matter how small, may serve to tear the whole thing down. By telling fables with art, Daniel encourages us to break free from the prejudices and arrogance of human supremacy, finding ways to respect and coexist with nature. Only then will we deserve the title "hominid primates".
