Monkeys are smarter than humans

A cheeky artwork for a Berlin art exhibition.

Author’s note: This was a lot of fun to create. Having a reference photo each from a huge encyclopaedia made it feel like a real global community exhibit.

The brief was sent out by Art Aviso in 2019 and as 2020 came around, the exhibition got postponed a couple of times, understandably (You’ll read more about it below).

I love this piece 4 years after I created it. That’s why you should create your art regardless of how you feel about it, someone else may like it and you may like it in the future. Just enjoying creating it, that’s the main thing. Liking it is optional.

I’ve found that I change my mind about my work all the time, but I do enjoy looking through what I’ve created and seeing my mind have different thoughts about it. It’s also satisfying seeing that you’ve created a collection of work as a whole.

Anyway, my love to you, enjoy this short post explaining my artwork.

Try and take in the artwork, I invite you to set a timer for 5 minutes and stare into their eyes. Comment below and tell me about your experience.

Not like you (2019) – 29.7 cm x 21 cm – Alcohol markers on paper

This piece was for a 2022 exhibition at LiTE-HAUS Galerie, Berlin.

In the reference material for this artwork, I received a page from Newnes’ Pictorial Knowledge 1950’s Encyclopedia,  about ‘monkeys and their ways’. The theme that has driven the direction of this piece is the reference that ‘monkeys resemble human beings more closely than any other creatures’. 

The cheeky looking gorilla is sending a message to humans that comes in three parts. They are saying ‘screw you’ with the middle finger to human beings for destroying the planet, harming other humans as well as animals. The gorilla is also saying “Not like you” as in “I don’t like you” as well as “Not like you” meaning “We are nothing like you”.

This artwork has a humorous edge to a serious topic, human beings have placed themselves as superior creatures, yet do so many stupid things, cause harm to others and destroy our surroundings for reasons of hate, greed, fear, love and a whole host of reasons. 

Monkeys on the other hand live their lives in relative peace and harmony and are perhaps the more intelligent creatures in reality.

Thanks for reading!