Jo Frederiks: The use of art to make a powerful statement

The artwork by Jo Frederiks epitomizes what the core meaning of art is, a new way of looking at things. Here is one artist that uses the canvas to show our violence and exploitation of animals for all to see. Some of her work is shocking, while other works are painfully sad. They all show the raw ugly truth.

STACI-LEE SHERWOOD: Art can take many forms, from literature and paintings to film and theatre. It has the power to transform us to other places and other ways of thinking… Another important aspect of art is how it’s used for cultural identity. For some people art shows their values and priorities while others use art as a tool to show our mistakes and a better way of living. Whatever message the artist is sending, art can change our minds and actions and the very essence of society.

Animal rights is a simple idea but one that comes with some of the most controversy and strongest feelings on both sides of the argument. At its core it seeks to give all other species we share the planet with similar rights to us. They have the right to living without the threat of abuse or death, as our own species has. In searching for ways to spread these ideals there have been rallies, laws, hearings, movies, books and art, arguing the pros and cons of giving other species ‘rights’.

Here is one artist that uses the canvas to show our violence and exploitation of animals for all to see. Some of her work is shocking, while other works are painfully sad. They all show the raw ugly truth. In many ways, the artwork by Jo Frederiks epitomizes what the core meaning of art is, a new way of looking at things…

I decided to reach out and ask her how she got into animal rights, why she chooses art as the platform and what has the reaction been from the viewing public. I asked why she chose art as a forum for animal right and she said “Visual art is the most effective and articulate way for me to reach a broad audience. Unfortunately, animal rights are an issue most people do not want to contemplate, but thought-provoking art can draw them in and engage and spark their curiosity. As the saying goes – a picture is worth a thousand words!”…

Some of the visual imagery can be hard to take especially if you’re not part of the animal rights movement. The cruelty and suffering from industry is hidden from the public because those who do it know the backlash that would come from uncensored exposure. Drug, cosmetic and chemical companies spend millions on spinning false tales of how testing on animals makes their product safe (it doesn’t) or how it’s legally required (not for cosmetics). Vivisection, which is testing on animals in labs, has a very poor track record when it comes to finding cures for diseases. The truth needs to be exposed and this is a great way to bring about the conversation…

Shocking thought provoking art can help jump start the intellectual revolution that needs to take place before lasting change happens. “Some people are genuinely shocked, some love and share my work and some ridicule and mock the artwork. Then there are the politically correct folk who use the ‘it’s offensive’ reaction to enforce art censorship. So there’s certainly no sitting on the fence when viewing my images. My illustrations for Go Vegan World’s wide-reaching, educational ad campaign received a very successful public response. And the feedback has been positive from my episode with the TV series Put Some Colour In Your Life which aired to a vast nonvegan audience.” SOURCE…

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