World Animal Day

At the Bullfight (La Corrida) © Cherry Jeffs 2009
33 x 50cm Mixed media on construction paper

It's World Animal Day and what better time to clear up a little misunderstanding about my attitude to bullfighting?

Apparently some folks have mistaken my tongue-in-cheek rendition of a bullfight as evidence that I support this Spanish 'Art'.

​Those of you who know me better, realise that since I don't eat meat, I'm hardly a likely follower of the 'Taurino' tradition here in Spain.

A tongue-in-cheek metaphor - or so I thought

The paper dolls featuring the bullfight theme were (I thought) a humorous metaphor for relationships between the sexes here in my adopted homeland. The males might puff out their chests and swagger a bit, but we all know that it is the women who are in charge. Hence, (Need I spell it out? Yes, apparently, I must.) the bullfighter doll is a girl and the bull is a boy doll.

In honour of all maltreated animals worldwide, I leave you with this beautiful video: It depicts the behaviour of a bull of the type that would normally be used in a bullfight, that has been reared with love instead of cruelty. 

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