'Rational Animal' art expo explores perceptions of identity and 'the other'

Stag Queen

At 24, this young artist has built a following of admirers and collectors who will have an opportunity to see a collection of all the works that lead him to the Rational Animal series.

Dry aims to push the boundaries of conventionality with his work and to broaden the viewer's perception the ordinary. His photorealistic representations of the unreal create a tension between appearance and reality. By subtly combining these two elements, he challenges our perceptions of reality and encourages us to assess and evaluate our biases, values and various other beliefs.

The Rational Animal series stays true to these aims while exploring the more specific theme of perceptions of identity and 'the other'. Dry's works serve as a comment on the human tendency to create distance between oneself and those perceived to be different in some way - differences such as sexuality, race, religion, culture, socioeconomic status and the like.

The hybrid creatures depicted in this series encourage the viewer to take on the perspective of the other. The viewer is confronted with beings that are at once familiar and foreign and is challenged to reflect on his or her ideas concerning others who fall into these two opposing categories. By viewing fellow humans as other, we become detached, isolated, disconnected and alienated. By creating beings that are different from the human viewer in such an overt and observable way, the artist asks viewers to remember how we are alike rather than how we differ, to find a common ground and in so doing to find acceptance - for others and for herself.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/JonoDryArt.