Rexotrek aims to encourage the user to see the world from a dog’s perspective. My research is informed by an interest in the age-old relationship between dog and man and how we still do not know a great deal about how dogs perceive the world, even though our lives have been intertwined for centuries. In scientific fields it remains somewhat taboo to state that animals can experience emotion. In contrast to this, pet owners tend to insist on the fact that their dog, cat or gerbil has the capacity to feel happy, sad or lonely. With the material I collected dealing with my own dog Rex, I propose a subjective expression through the medium of installation, video and audio.
The research process consisted of a series of experiments in which I attempted to record the happiness of my dog in various circumstances. I experimented with attaching devices such as GPS to track his movements, an audio recorder to capture his personal sounds and a small video camera to capture his movements. In so doing, I intended to explore the notion of casting the dog in the role of artist and collected an archive of sound and visuals from Rex’s point of view.
The information gathered by these experiments is displayed in a sensory space, to try to reproduce the perspective of the dog. The user is required to get down on their hands and knees to experience the piece, listening to Rex’s breathing, rhythm and the sounds of his environment. To be on ‘all fours’ creates a humbling and perhaps embarrassing experience. I believe it is a good way to get a genuine and adequate insight into a dog’s emotional state.