One day, as I was walking in the woods, I came across a herd of wild boars. Among them was a common breeding pig. I was surprised. When I looked at her, I noticed that the expression on her face was like a smile. There was joy in her every movement.
In search of that smile, I went to shelter for pigs. When I took photos there, I saw exactly the same thing as in the forest. These animals were really smiling, they were simply happy.
I have heard many horrible stories about the treatment of animals in factory farming. But here, at the shelter, I also heard beautiful, breathtaking stories about how to give animals a dignified life again and teach them what wind, sky, earth and grass are...
Then I was struck by the analogy between the story of Ophelia from Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" and the fate of incapacitated animals who have been deprived of their freedom and ability to make decisions.
The inspiration for my photograph was the painting "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais, which depicts the scene of death as an act of liberation. Millais' Ophelia sings as she dies, as if in a Shakespeare play.
My Ophelia is a pig that has escaped from a farm. Confused by colors, smells and light, she fell into a forest pond. When she drowns, she is calm, smiles, looks up to the sky as a free creature.
Thank you for your help: the animal shelters - ”Chrumkowo" and „Pegasus”.
2021, Photography. Limited edition 8 + 2AP, print on the cotton Fine Art paper, 1850×710 mm