Works

Cat Pleasure was created for the exhibition What's It Like to Be an Animal?, which was based on evolutionary biologist and researcher Helena Telkänranta's book Millaista on olla eläin? (2015). Minna Herrala became interested in the animal welfare discussed in chapter 7 of the book. Welfare is a life-sustaining feeling. For her research, Herrala chose cats, as she has lived with cats for over 30 years and observed the behaviour of tens of cats.

A cat became a partner for a human being when, in addition to hunting and gathering, people started growing crops. Cats were needed to keep rodents away from granaries. Since then, cats have been visually portrayed, depending on the period, as worshipped, hated, feared or loved and, in general, particularly as objects. In this collection, cats are subjects and doers. Herrala pictures things and situations that please cats. Her works are created in a symbolist style. Desiring, enjoying, sociability and playfulness bring pleasure to cats.

A sound production focusing on cats plays in the background of the collection. The music was composed by Jimi Savola based on the artist's instructions and created with cats' needs in mind. It plays at a softer volume, as cats have considerably better hearing than humans. Research material included Charles Snowdon's study “Cats Prefer Species-Appropriate Music” and music for cats by David Teie. The piece was test-played for 18 cats.

What's It Like to Be an Animal? introduces works from 8 Finnish contemporary artists.

The exhibition is based on evolution biologist and scientist Helena Telkänranta's book (2015). Helena Telkänranta specialises in animal behaviour, emotions and cognition. She has carried out research at the University of Bristol and University of Helsinki. She is currently working on measuring animal welfare and detecting states of pain in veterinary medicine and is developing innovative ways of communicating zoology to audiences and schoolchildren visually and experientially.

The artists' art works reflect and are thematically based on the book. The book is an introduction to animal behaviour and the art works widen and broaden its themes with artistic and visual thinking. Each artist has chosen a chapter in the book that they have used as the base for the art work. Helena Telkänranta has worked as a discussion partner for the artists. The exhibition doesn't illustrate the book, but deepens it thematically. In scientific research anything is not possible, but in art boundaries can be crossed.

The exhibition helps us gain a better understanding of human affection and behaviour. It gives us better abilities to understand the other feelings and perceptions that populate this planet. The exhibition highlights the ability and willingness to understand other beings' perspective and experience. Using this ability does not make us dehumanized — but the opposite.