“The Trilogy of Dissonance”, 2025

Oil paint on 100% linen canvas

Painting series “The Trilogy of Dissonance” was completed as my bachelor’s thesis and is accompanied by a theoretical component titled “Cognitive Dissonance in the Case of Speciesism.” These three paintings – “Doubt,” “Dilemma,” and “Clarity” – are my artistic representation of cognitive dissonance as a phenomenon that enables speciesism (species chauvinism). The project is influenced by the dissonances I experienced within myself and the process, which ultimately led to a complete paradigm shift – from a speciesist worldview, in which other species are believed to exist for human benefit, to veganism, which recognizes that all animals, including humans, have intrinsic value and the right to bodily integrity. In my thesis, I propose the hypothesis that when we treat non-human animals as objects, materials, or renewable resources, this attitude can easily extend to all those perceived as having lower cognitive capacity than the dominant group – for example, children, the elderly, and people with intellectual disabilities – or those who differ based on other traits such as race, gender identity, or physical disability. Drawing on the principles of intersectional feminism, I examine the challenges faced by various minority groups in human society, comparing these to the treatment animals receive. I explore the parallels between speciesism and other forms of oppression, such as ableism and othering etc. As a conscious choice, this painting series contains no visual reference to speciesism; instead, I focus on the cognitive dissonance that arises solely within the human psyche, using compositional shifts and contrasting elements. The theme centers on the animal at the top of the power dynamic – the human. The paradox lies in the fact that when people begin to perceive the interconnectedness of different forms of oppression, it deepens the understanding that we ourselves are not immune to the effects of speciesist violence. The resulting series builds upon my solo exhibition “Shared Space” (Tartu Art House, October 11 – November 10, 2024). That earlier series centered on a symbolic dialogue between two female individuals of different species – a woman and a chicken. With this I referred the potential for empathy in human society through self-reflection.

All paintings were photographed by Andrus Kannel