Remembrance, 40x40cm, Sheep droppings, 2021

Remembrance is a square floor installation made from sheep droppings collected from an animal sanctuary where I worked in the summer of 2021 and measures 40x40cm. The work is a memorial and homage to the sheep I met there, and is born out of a sense of loss at moving away and losing contact with the animals.

It originates in a desire to create a work of art using only materials directly coming from sheep. In this way the focus is on the material, its aesthetic and meaningful capacities.The work reflects my relationship with the sheep at the animal sanctuary in Saarbrücken, where I took the role of a caretaker, responsible for feeding, medical treatment and cleaning. When moving from Germany to Brussels, I began collecting materials from these sheep to incorporate them in artworks. The bond formed over the past few months had enhanced the value of the materials, gave them signi- ficance and helped to reconnect with the memories of the sanctuary. Initially repulsed by the idea of touching sheep dung with bare hands, they later became a symbol of care and intimacy. In this way, the installation reflects on how material can be experienced in very different ways depending on personal experience. Additionally, the installation experiments with sensory perception, particularly through smell. Visually discreet and minimalist in com- position, the sheep dung‘s odor becomes central in the viewer‘s experience.

Sheep droppings were chosen because they are a material closely observed in animal care, serving as an indicator of health. Their use in this artwork reflects my relationship with the sheep and my role as a caretaker. Also, dung is often met with disgust. This work challenges that perception by approaching it as an artistic material with aesthetic qualities. The droppings also have a distinct smell, which plays a crucial role in shaping the sensory experience of the installation.