David Shrigley: Animal Kingdom
British artist David Shrigley is best known for his distinctive and darkly humorous drawings, sculptures, and installations. Shrigley's art often explores absurdity, human nature, and the complexities of everyday life. Shrigley's drawings are characterised by their childlike simplicity, often accompanied by witty captions or ironic statements. His works blend humour with a touch of melancholy, offering a unique perspective on the human condition
A common theme across his work is the inclusion of a varied range of animals, from endangered species like tigers, elephants and polar bears, to domestic creatures like dogs, cats and rabbits. His use of the animal kingdom adds to the absurdity of his works with those featured engaging in peculiar or unexpected activities. The simplicity of these works adds to the humour and accessibility of his art for both kids and adults.
“I use horses to convey happy messages.
I use apes to convey comic messages.
I use cats to convey thought-provoking messages.
I use reptiles to convey indifference.
I use dinosaurs to convey irony.”
Shrigley’s longstanding interest in exploring the relationship between humans and animals comes from his belief that '“animals to be more authentic and honest than humans”, and that they often serve as a reflection of human behaviour.
“They’re interesting because they’re not like us. We can’t understand what they’re thinking or feeling. They’re sort of like us, but not like us.”
In 2021, one of his most recognisable works ‘My Rampage Is Over’ featuring the image of a blue elephant with the words “I Must Rest, My Rampage Is Over” scrawled underneath hammered for £17,500 at Christie’s Auction. Seen below is a similar work called ‘The Elephant’, available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects
Shrigley explained to The Guardian that the origins of his use of animals in his work stems from the idea that animals are representations of nature and humans are representations of culture. So, animals are outsiders looking in to judge us, and highlight the absurdity of our behaviour.
Scroll below to view other works available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects featuring David Shrigley’s love for animals:
Click here to view our full collection of works by David Shrigley
All pieces featured are available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects