Sarah Davison

I a child and thou a lamb:

This piece asks what is the difference between a human baby and a lamb – both are sentient beings deserving of equal treatment and care. Their eyes allow a glimpse into their emotional worlds and their infancy represents innocence and the promise of life ahead. However, the reality for the lamb, of course, is slaughter or a life of slavery. The images circling the portraits are drawn from a vintage 1950s children’s book about farming and illustrate the beginnings of intensive farming practices. The question remains as to why one being is cherished and her life valued above all else, while another being is consigned for human consumption and a life of misery. The title is borrowed from the William Blake poem ‘The Lamb’ that considers, among other things, the gentleness shared by children and lambs.