In the past, sheep were mainly farmed for their meat and wool. Sheepskin was a by-product back then, a kind of “residual waste”. The popularity of UGG boots (and the fake imitations) has meant that sheepskin is no longer seen in many countries as “residual waste” following slaughter. Consequently, sheep are now farmed and slaughtered there mainly for producing boots. To keep costs as low as possible, animal welfare is not high up the list in the wool and meat industry.
Before sheep are slaughtered they’re forced to live miserable lives: Sheep are typically crammed into crowded pens. Lambs’ their tails are chopped off, and the males are castrated, all usually without anesthetics or pain relief. And in some countries, the fur and skin are simply cut from the sheep’s body without anaesthetic.
That’s the price of a UGG …
Eliza the Sheep, 80 x 60 cm, oil on canvas,framed © 2018 Alexandra Klimas
The sheep Alexandra visits are lucky. They are allowed to graze in a country where spring lambs can frolic with joy alongside their sheep mothers.
Eliza the Sheep and other farm animals on show:
Solo exhibition, Alexandra Klimas – Farm Animals
Opening: 13 Jun 2019, 18.00 – 20.00
13 jun 2019 – 9 Jul 2019
Event times Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm
By appointment only Cost of entry: Free
Plus One Gallery, Piper Building, Peterborough Road, London
https://www.plusonegallery.com/exhibitions/128/overview/
