Persistent Memories & Animal Ethics
Through the texture of the material, I create art that addresses bodies and their relationship to political landscapes. My present gaze lies on the correlation between animal ethics, biopolitics, post-colonial theory, and political disappearances. Recently, I have been focusing on the materiality of oil paint, a medium historically recognized for its value and prestige. In Animal Ethics, I depict vulnerable non-human animals in oil paint, attempting to give them value and a voice. Furthermore, I hope to capture humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world through bold and unexpected material choices.
By creating transparent paintings of individuals who disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship in Persistent Memories, I hope to spark conversation around the human toll behind post-colonial politics. From 1976-1983, the Argentine military dictatorship disappeared 30,000 civilians, the desaparecidos. Through portraits on glass, I aim to capture the unimaginable tragedy behind the loss of these individuals.
While Animal Ethics and Persistent Memories are separate bodies of work, both series spark dialogues on environmental ethics that are critical in the modern age. While Argentina’s military dictatorship ended over 40 years ago, political disappearances of indigneous and environmental activists persists throughout Latin America to enable environmental destruction. Furthermore, the meat industrial complex is the leading source of species extinction and deforestation.
By illuminating systemic violence and exploitation, I hope to share my reflections examining the way we live.
Paula Meninato
Paula Meninato is a Philadelphia-based artist and activist. In 2019, Paula curated a panel discussion at Tate Modern through the Tate Exchange program at Plymouth College of Art. Since 2011, Paula has exhibited her socially-conscious art at group exhibits that include CraneArts, The Painted Bride, DaVinci Art Alliance, Rodger Lapelle Galleries, as well as venues in Vienna, Sweden, and Luxembourg. She has a Masters in Arts from Plymouth College of Art. Meninato graduated from Tyler School of Art with a BFA in Painting, academic honors, a presidential scholarship, and a solo show at the Argentine Embassy in Washington, DC.
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