The presented collection of works spans pieces created by Katrina Tracuma from 2016 up to 2020. From the beginning of BFA studies, she had an interest in exploring human sexuality and gender through the prism of animals as symbolic images, through to paintings that are a reflection of how humanity utilizes the bodies and skills of non-human animals for personal gain and entertainment; along with works that make up broader series documenting the extinct and endangered species of wildlife within the British Isles, as well as imagery that encapsulates the many broader themes of animal rights.

 

These icons are a symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the seemingly inevitable disregard of our human society towards all those who we share our home planet with. Thus, the narrative of animality is the power of oppression that needs to be tackled in order to meaningfully liberate all animals - including ourselves - from racism, sexism, body shaming, speciesism, etc. By examining how all the violence that we experience is interconnected. 

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The work of multidisciplinary visual artist Katrīna Tračuma focuses on humankind's estrangement from nature, often explored through our relationships with other species. Using bold brushstrokes and vivid colors, her paintings combine symbolic imagery and metaphors to highlight environmental issues. Born in 1993 in Jelgava, Latvia, Katrīna earned a BFA from Crawford College of Art in 2018 and an MFA from Belfast School of Art in 2021. She has exhibited widely across Europe, the USA, and India, and has won several awards, including the Visual Arts Award at the Galway Fringe Festival in 2018.