Yun-Fei Tou: Memento Mori

Yun-Fei Tou: Memento Mori by Aline SmithsonNovember 24, 2014

2011/09/23 12:57 p.m. Taiwanese Public Animal Shelter Time until Euthanized: 1.1 Hours ©Yun-Fei Tou

Yun-Fei Tou has created a heart breaking, yet important body of work that shines a light on the euthanization of shelter dogs. He captures them in their last moments, with dignity and acknowledgement, and forces us to consider the sad endings of animals in our midst.

Yun-Fei Tou graduated from Rhode Island School of Design receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1998. Between 1999 and 2009, he worked as a professional photojournalist. Since 2010, he has independently pursued fine art photography while focusing on various social issues in Taiwan, where he lives. His work incorporates a variety of artistic and conceptual approaches.

MEMENTO MORI has been exhibited in many international as well as local art spaces and galleries. In 2011, MEMENTO MORI was featured in PROVOCATION, a juried,invitational exhibition held during the New York Photo Festival; in 2012, the series was awarded Grand Prize by “The 10th Taoyuan Creation Award” in Taiwan. MEMENTO MORI was recognized by PhotoShelter as being a “Notable Photography Project” in 2012. This body of work has been published in numerous news and media circles around the world including: Der Spiegel, Daily Mail, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, and the Huffington Post.

2011/06/13 11:44 a.m. Taiwanese Public Animal Shelter Time until Euthanized: 40 Minutes ©Yun-Fei Tou

MEMENTO MORI

Utilizing the classical portrait style that artists have used throughout history, these images record the last moments of life for dogs found in public pounds run by government agencies in Taiwan. The images are taken on the actual day that each animal depicted is euthanized. Through these portraits the viewer is confronted with an irreversible past and witnesses the decay of life, moments before death. These nameless animals, by virtue of the size at, which they are printed and the approximations to human scale, are transformed into existence.

As you engage with the dog, the dog returns the scrutiny. The relationship between seeing and being seen, between the subject and object reverses and the discriminatory hierarchy is lessened. The status of power between humans and other salient beings, those considered “the other” is diminished.

The images presented in the MEMENTO MORI act as the artist’s own self-portrait whereby one can look back and in retrospect reflect upon times of confusion and despair; the pains of both spirit and body; the desire for exit and the fear of death; and witness the melancholia.