EMST Athens exhibition 'Why Look at Animals?' critiques human-animal ethics through activist lens
The exhibition 'Why Look at Animals?' is on display at EMST in Athens until February 15, 2026, curated by Katerina Gregos and featuring approximately sixty artists. Drawing inspiration from John Berger's 1977 essay, this showcase takes a stance aligned with animal rights activism. Prominent works include Sue Coe's 2009 print 'Auschwitz Begins Whenever Someone Looks at a Slaughterhouse and Thinks,' along with Jakup Ferri's 'We We' (2011–24), Mark Dion's 'Men and Game' (1998), and Jonas Staal's 'Exo-Ecologies' (2023). Additional significant pieces are Lynn Hershman Leeson's 'The Infinity Engine' (2014), Maarten Vanden Eynde's 'Homo stupidus stupidus' (2008), and Ang Siew Ching's 'High-Rise Pigs' (2025). The exhibition critiques how industrial society interacts with animals, delving into themes of reciprocity and ethical dilemmas.
Key facts
- Exhibition runs through February 15, 2026 at EMST Athens
- Curated by EMST director Katerina Gregos
- Features approximately sixty artists
- Title references John Berger's 1977 essay 'Why Look at Animals?'
- Includes Sue Coe's 2009 print 'Auschwitz Begins Whenever Someone Looks at a Slaughterhouse and Thinks'
- Ang Siew Ching's video 'High-Rise Pigs' (2025) examines pig farming in Hubei province, China
- Sammy Baloji's installation 'Hunting & Collecting' (2015) addresses colonial Congo and contemporary DRC conflicts
- Exhibition emphasizes animal rights activism over ecological approaches
Entities
Artists
- John Berger
- Katerina Gregos
- Jakup Ferri
- Sue Coe
- Mark Dion
- Jonas Staal
- Lynn Hershman Leeson
- Maarten Vanden Eynde
- Nabil Boutros
- Ang Siew Ching
- Janis Rafa
- Annika Kahrs
- Emma Talbot
- Sammy Baloji
Institutions
- EMST
- ArtReview
Locations
- Athens
- Greece
- Ukraine
- Hubei province
- China
- Congo
- DRC