Hare
I felt a profound relief when I discovered I wasn’t alone in having accidentally killed an animal as a child. This experience seems to be a shared one, though it remains deeply personal. I adored that rabbit dearly, but my affection was fleeting—lasting only about ten hours. As a child, I couldn’t grasp the distinction between a toy and a living creature. One of those innocent playthings proved to be tragically fatal. To this day, my shame isn’t for myself but for those who gave me that animal. It was a deeply unkind act.
My first experience with death illuminated the underlying tension in the relationship between humans and other beings. It's a complex, often somber connection marked by a profound imbalance. When I think about that hare, I yearn for greater equality. Its presence still lingers, its mournful gaze mirroring my own sorrow. This memory, one of many melancholic wounds, continues to shape me. Yet, returning to these reflections seems to offer valuable insights into understanding the present.
Hare and Rabbit are part of a sculptural installation entitled The Hare and the Rabbit.
Hare (2024), black socks, wood, upholstery foam, glass eyes, 85cm x 38cm x 36cm.
Photo by Bartosz Górka, from the exhibition Hi Stranger hosted by WHOISPOLA Gallery in Warsaw.
Hare
I felt a profound relief when I discovered I wasn’t alone in having accidentally killed an animal as a child. This experience seems to be a shared one, though it remains deeply personal. I adored that rabbit dearly, but my affection was fleeting—lasting only about ten hours. As a child, I couldn’t grasp the distinction between a toy and a living creature. One of those innocent playthings proved to be tragically fatal. To this day, my shame isn’t for myself but for those who gave me that animal. It was a deeply unkind act.
My first experience with death illuminated the underlying tension in the relationship between humans and other beings. It's a complex, often somber connection marked by a profound imbalance. When I think about that hare, I yearn for greater equality. Its presence still lingers, its mournful gaze mirroring my own sorrow. This memory, one of many melancholic wounds, continues to shape me. Yet, returning to these reflections seems to offer valuable insights into understanding the present.
Hare and Rabbit are part of a sculptural installation entitled The Hare and the Rabbit.