Many different cultures use animals as a way of reflecting upon our lives. Examples include Medieval Bestiaries, Aesop’s fables to traditional fairy tales. Many cultures including Native Americans believe we have a spirit guide in the form of an animal. They provide guidance and wisdom in difficult times. The Institute of Animal Spirit Guides is inspired by this tradition.
Playing with our desire to know, order and understand our chaotic world, this project moved around the space between our rational and irrational selves. This participatory installation invited the festival audience to take part in a personality quiz which picked out their animal spirit guide, create a cardboard accessory and step behind the X Ray machine to reveal and commune with their inner animal. The installation was both a day and night time event.
