The history of children’s literature is underscored by the many dark undertones hidden beneath the innocent facade of familiar bedside stories. Early tellings of stories by authors such as the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson feature disturbing themes, moral cautions and grisly deaths, occasionally culminating in unhappy endings. Passed down through generations, we have become accustomed to thinking of fairy tales as wholesome enjoyment and light reading for young children. The vibrant illustrations and colourful imagery in contemporary interpretations further distract from the real meanings behind these stories. My work utilises these elements to look at contemporary themes.
Told from the perspective of an anthropomorphic fox, this story looks at the concepts of depression, loneliness and isolation. Combining hand illustrated ceramics, installation, and an accompanying artist book, the viewer is taken on a journey over the course of a single day in the life of the fox and a group of other animals. This story echoes the dark undertones and hidden meanings that were prevalent in classic fairy tales and ponders the question: do the characters in these stories always live happily ever after?
