In her work, German Iraqi artist Lin May Saeed (1973–2023) explored the relationship between humans and animals, critically examining the hierarchies between human and non-human creatures. In Saeed’s drawings and sculptures, animals do not play a symbolic or decorative role but are shown as active protagonists. In doing so, Saeed critically examined Western thought traditions, which generally place humans at the center and instrumentalise animals. Saeed’s artworks take their cue …
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In her work, German Iraqi artist Lin May Saeed (1973–2023) explored the relationship between humans and animals, critically examining the hierarchies between human and non-human creatures. In Saeed’s drawings and sculptures, animals do not play a symbolic or decorative role but are shown as active protagonists. In doing so, Saeed critically examined Western thought traditions, which generally place humans at the center and instrumentalise animals. Saeed’s artworks take their cue from historical thinkers who investigated how animals shaped human societies long before the emergence of modern states and nations. This raises a fundamental question: Why do we humans feel the need to distinguish ourselves from nature and all other living beings?
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Images: Lin May Saeed, installation views, 2026, Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland
Photos: David Aebi LMS
