I had such an amazing time in Germany, thanks so much to everyone who came and shared their thoughts with me on Saturday! You people are incredible! I was so scared and terrified that something will go wrong. That people won't understand my artworks and like most of the time I won't be criticised for what I should be, but will experience personal attacks and my ideas will be torn apart. It didn't happen (ok, there were a couple of people who said nasty things, but who does care about them anyway when you have many supportive people around?). It was one of the best days in my life! 

Hello world. 
I just had an exhibition in Germany and still feel over excited about how great everything turned out. So bellow You will be able to find some information (mostly pictures) how it did go. 
And here you can read a proper introduction to the series Mūtātiō

It's so important to talk and connect different issues. Every single piece of Mūtātiō questions gender constructs, looks much deeper into the transition process as well as carefully touches a huge inequality between species. We live in the society where is vital to question our own superiority and realise connections in this huge intersectional, sometimes broken, spider web. World pushes its own morals and ideas, not leaving enough space to reflect our lives, ideas or question one's status quo. But we must stop and think. We must stop, feel and realise that not everything we were told is true. The world is not only black and white. The whole life is a grey area. The obvious might be hidden, but we need to look deeper to realise it. 
You do have a voice. Don't let them silence you...

Special thanks to my parter in crime Theresa for all the wonderful help and support. Talking with you, sharing ideas, planning the future and discussing things made life so much better and easier. Thank you for believing in me and interpreting my works. You are AWESOME (I'm awesome sometimes too). Hope we'll be able to share much more art adventures in the future! 

To all my friends who came all the way from different cities and different countries. Love you all! Thank you for being here and sharing those great moments with me. 
Shout out to all the fantastic human beings I met, it was so much fun to share my ideas with you, can't wait for next time!

As the space was huge I decided to use one of the walls as a conceptual space and do something different. 
I even felt like being at university again, just this time I was the one making all the decisions and there were no teachers you need to please. All the time I was surrounded by most encouraging people who believed in what I'm doing. 
I was not sure how visitors are going to react to this exhibition, as like always, my art is SO controversial, metaphorical and philosophical... Through my art I talk about things that make society uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. You can't find answers to the questions and after looking and investigating end up having more questions. That's what art should do - make one to think and question.
It worked very well and we ended up discussing about life, universe, inequality and our own experiences. 

Thank YOU everyone who wrote (and drew!) into my book and shared your personal feelings, emotions and thoughts with me. 
My art (and sadness) is everything I have, so sharing it with the rest of the world, getting so much positive feedback and being able to talk with people who can see and feel more than just a beautiful picture made me extremely happy. 
I feel inspired and want to do so much more! I want to be able to leave something with a meaning, something much bigger than I am, much more important.. So people could remember my works and still talk about my ideas after I'm gone. 

I DO NOT WANT GO BACK TO THE REALITY! 

Copyright © Lex Kartanė

All rights reserved.
All works are copyrighted and not to be used without the permission of the author.

It's very sad to write this statement and I have never thought that it will be needed to point out that animal rights movement has nothing to  do with nazism, fascism, racism and other bigotries. It just was so clear. Obviously not for others. . .

Animal rights movement always has been against all kind of oppressions. Or at least it seems so. But right extremists try to join the movement and bring their views again and  again, they often see animal rights as a perfect platform for their propaganda. The message is clear, there is no place for fascism and racism. And never will be! And still debates are going on: should we let nazis to join animal rights movement or not?
First of all, how did this idea come to someone's minds? How could someone who stands for animal rights even have such concerns? How can we simply like that forget all the history and let fascists stand with us for one cause and at the same time spread their hate? Do we so desperately need big numbers on demos? Are there hundreds of nazis waiting to join the movement that we so terrified and simply cannot say no?
Often people tell me that things are changing, we do not kill others just because of their race or sexual orientation, and those so called nationalists do not hate everyone who is not from their country, some even have friends of different race or sexual orientation. Wow, such an argument! My only recommendation to that is to learn about analytic thinking, find out what fallacy in discussion stands for and do some research. Shorty: no, the fact that You know someone from oppressed group does not make You a supporter from the whole group. (Putin has a homosexual friend (according to him), does that make him LGBT community supporter and the rest does not matter? Obviously NOT, same goes here).
Yes, many forms of hate have softened since World Wars, but even if it is become somehow uncomfortable for individuals to express their bigotry openly (most of the time), it doesn't mean that it does not exist. The change of form did not make it disappear. This fascistic hate  still spreads around and sadly sometimes on behalf of animal rights/welfare.

Some activists even openly invite nazis join demos or actions to liberate animals, because [animals do not care who helps them] [it should be about animals, leave human politics behind]. Their invites often seem harmless like [of course I'm against racism, but if someone who is not wants to help the cause they are more than welcome]. And here we need to stop and start questioning if everyone is welcome really means everyone. Obviously not. All kind of activism deals with people, animal rights activists are people as well. We cannot simply forget human rights, wipe them out like nothing and collaborate with fascists. We cannot really fight for animal rights when we still doubt the need of human rights (ok, most of people don't, they say they are for human rights, but their actions and words prove differently). And all open hints to invite fascists just show the lack of understanding (or at least I hope so, because another option - understanding the danger of it too well and inviting nazis on purpose seems like unrealistic and way too well planned move; why someone from animal rights would do something like that?!) of the whole picture and idea of the movement.
Others say that we need to be open to everyone and animal rights it's a good platform to educate fascists about issues on human rights. If You really feel like educating them, maybe You should go and educate them somewhere else, like join anti-fascistic events (as many animal rights activists already do). This ignorance or lack of understanding certainly helps to assure that fascism sticks around and it will be even more difficult to stop it.
Nazi sympathisers play an important role in the whole scene. Any kind of sympathy just gives encouragement to those who spread their violence. Because of their unwillingness to cooperate with those who search for ways to bring justice, those sympathisers also share responsibility for spreading the hate. But there are thousands if not millions of individuals who would not dream of committing any kind of hate crime (in this case "hate crime" can be misleading, as it not always comes from "hate", many times it comes from lack of understanding, desire to be accepted, fear of loosing power, economic motivation, etc.) or hurt someone on purpose nevertheless contribute to fascism by sympathizing with those who do perpetrate hate attacks.

There are countless numbers of individuals in the movement who remain just passive spectators to this bigotry because they benefit in either a psychological or any other socio kind sense from the status quo. When  asked they would say it's wrong and perhaps would feel uncomfortable standing surrounded by fascists, but still would do nothing about.  Although lacking in prejudice, these spectators also lack the courage required to pay the price for doing the right thing. It seems that many people do not like to step out from their conformity zone, but  activists, people who already already are speaking up and fighting for animal rights, already stepped out. . . . So, how does it happen that so many activists don't take a clear stand against fascism? Don't they see the connection between human and animal rights? Don't they see that oppression is always an oppression? . . .
Sadly, even if most of them believe in principles of equality, they may feel powerless to change the situation. And at the same time, while fascism does not touch them directly, they will do mostly nothing. The consequences of this "neutral" side may be ambiguous, but the intentions are clear enough.
Now it's time to choose the side. There is no between and by being just a passive spectator You are contributing to the cause of hate.

Thank You for reading, and hopefully some of You will make a connection.

Today is World Elephant Day. Elephant is kind of the symbol of all the animals who are spending their lives in captivity to entertain human beings. They are torn from their natural environment, locked in too small cages and forced to perform tricks. And all just that a few people can enjoy themselves! Humane live in captivity is not possible for elephants (and other animals); neither in a zoo neither in a circus. In their original habitats elephants daily walk up to 20 kilometres. Therefore it is very easy to imagine how bored must be these animals in too small cages, without the opportunity to live the life they originally would. According to recent statistics 200 elephants are currently living in Germany. All (except one) circus elephants were born in the wild, captured at a young age and transported to Germany...  Just use google or any other search tool and You will find a lot of information about that.
I'd like to take this occasion to call to all the people and make them to think about non-human animals who have to suffer in captivity. I hope for a day when all of animals are free. . .

And when someone says that I can't decide what is the best for animals, just because I cannot ask them or because they would have different opinion than I do, I have to admit that many times they are right. Many animals would have different opinion than I do. Well, what I can say, ask average human if (s)he would like to be completely free? Or let's back to the near past, when it was believed that slaves did not want freedom. So, was it ethical to end slavery? Now, I imagine all of You thinking about ethics and getting the idea that not, we can't free the slaves, they do not know better, and it's ok to keep them. They can't survive on their own, they need to have the master (of course the good and fair one, who does not beat them and so on). But to free them? No, no, no, they do not want freedom. . .

And even if elephant I know could tell me what she wants, and would choose to stay in captivity, it would mean absolutely nothing to me. And not because I do not respect her opinion. Of course I do! But we have to admit that in some situations someone's very important Opinion is meaningless. When oppressed women are coming back to their husbands, who rape and beat them again and again, are we saying that it is ok because they chose to come back? Are we saying that this life is ok and we can't change anything, because they simply do not know better? Shouldn't we try to free them and teach them to have a life of their own? Don't we understand that this is only because they know no better, they have nothing else and the love they love their husbands is the same love slaves loved their masters? Of course we do (or at least people claim so). So why can't we see the parallel between this situation and animals in captivity?

It is very humanoid to own everything around You. Everything around teaches that this world was created to You. No one cares that we build roads on someone's house. No one cares about snails and run over them. No one cares about worm who is sinking in the pool. And no one ever would step into the ice water in the middle of winter just to rescue it (except those crazy people like me). Even religions teaches You that Man owns the world. To separate from that idea on Your own You need to have a very strong personality. If You are not surrounded by people who think so, it is very hard to make a decision on Your own and to be the one who stands up the first. It is easy to follow others. But to stand up alone, to dare to speak and admit that You were wrong is hard. It is fucking scary and so hard. You need to believe in what You are doing infinitely. . .

Many animal rights activists believe that people in zoo or circus do not love animals. How can You love someone and let them suffer? How can You love someone and ignore their pain? To understand that paradox You need to separate Your personal feelings and facts. So, yeah, I won't be popular between animal rights activists (not only because I would not listen to animals' opinion), but I believe when a person from circus says that he loves animals. There is no one way to love. Love is not a thing that You can put into strict definition. You can't say that only this type of love is right, and the rest is wrong. Anyway, many parents who beat their children still love them. They just do not know better and believe that this is the right thing to do. It is very wrong to cause pain to others, does not matter what circumstances. But how can we judge someone? People should understand that not another person is bad or wrong, but his actions. People love to dehumanise others. Everyone who is different in one or another way, everyone who do not follow one's moral norms is considered as scum, freak, villain and very often labelled as a bad person. Animal rights activists dehumanise animal trainers from time to time. And opposite, people from circus dehumanise animal rights activists. Why? Because the fact that both are the same people are just too disturbing. Most of humans feel very close connections to each other, so no one wants to accept that the killer is just a person like You with feelings, wishes and minds. . .

And still if You want to change something, You have to understand that everyone is different, and there is no one truth. I wish that there were more animal rights advocates out there, I wish that people would finally realise that it is ok to be different and by criticising someone's action, You do not attack the person. We all want to live in a better (one or another way) world, but still so stick to our own truth that cannot realise that there is a lot of place for many of them and they do not necessary contradict each other. . .

Ok, have a wonderful World Elephant Day!

And I simply cannot not to share the text about the protest that was my favourite protest of the year 2012 (originally I wanted to add the link, but website where it was published is closed due some circumstances) - World Elephant Day in Kaufbeuren:

"Protest am Welt-Elefanten-Tag, 12. 8. 2012, vor Circus Krone in Kaufbeuren
Am Welt-Elefanten-Tag, 12. August 2012, fanden in vielen Städten Demonstrationen vor Einrichtungen statt, in denen Elefanten ihr Leben in Gefangenschaft zubringen müssen. Um 12 Uhr fand sich eine Gruppe von sieben Aktivist_innen vor dem Circus Krone zusammen, der seine Zelte in Kaufbeuren aufgeschlagen hatte, um dort zu protestieren. An diesem Tag sollten zwei Zirkusvorstellungen gegeben werden.
Ziel des Protests war, die Zirkusbesucher und Passanten über die für nichtmenschliche Tiere unwürdigen Umstände der Tierhaltung in Zirkussen aufzuklären und die Forderung nach Abschaffung von Tierhaltung in Zirkussen bekannter zu machen. Dazu wurden zwischen den Eingängen zum Zirkuszoo und zum Zirkus selbst Plakate aufgehängt, die mit Slogans wie "Artgerecht ist nur die Freiheit" und "Kein Applaus für Tierquälerei" die Anliegen der Aktivist_innen unterstreichen sollten.
Die Aktivist_innen teilten sich in zwei Gruppen auf, um sowohl die Besucher des Zoos als auch die des Zirkus ansprechen zu können. Die Aktivist_innen verteilten Flyer an die Passanten und führten mit Interessierten und mit Zirkusbesuchern Diskussionen. In den Diskussionen ist das Argument, dass es nichtmenschlichen Tieren in anderen Tierausbeutungseinrichtungen schlechter ergehe als im Circus Krone, sehr häufig gefallen -- als ob das Leid eines anderen nichtmenschlichen Tiers das Leid eines anderen rechtfertigen würde.
Zwischen den Vorstellungen machten die Aktivist_innen eine kleine Stärkungspause und unterhielten sich mit Schere-und-Papier-Tricks, die neuesten Erkenntnissen der Möbiusband-Forschung entstammen.
Danach ging es in die zweite Runde der Informationsveranstaltung, die im Wesentlichen wie die erste verlief: Es wurden viele Diskussionen geführt. Um 18 Uhr beendeten die Aktvist_innen die Aktion, mit dem Wissen um die guten Ergebnisse dieser Aktion: Es konnten viele Personen auf die Umstände nichtmenschlicher Tiere in Zirkussen aufmerksam gemacht werden. Außerdem entschlossen sich einige Passanten, die ursprünglich eine Vorstellung besuchen wollten, das unwürdige Spektakel des Tierzirkus nicht mit ihrem Geld unterstützen zu wollen, und machten kehrt. "
© Jonathan Ott, 26.08.2012

What next?

• Visit our project Boykott Circus Krone to find out more about our actions concerning the biggest animal circus in Germany and probably in the whole Europe.
• Visit Elephant Haven website, and in case You feel like supporting a very great project, feel free to do so! I find it very important to have elephant sanctuary in Europe and support this initiative whenever I have time.
• Raise as much awareness about animal rights as possible every day.
• Organise protests in Your area, write letters to local media and educate others whenever You are able to.
• And of course, boycott all zoos and circuses with animals.

There are many many other ways how You can dedicate to this very important topic. The fact that You already think about is already a big step to this direction, because most of the people don't.
I'd love to write about, raise awarenesses, participate in every action and help organising things concerning animal and human rights, but I'm just one person, and there is not enough time for me to do that. But everyone of You are the same human beings as I am, and You can do many great things! Anyway, feel free to share everything that is relevant (or not) to the topic, I appreciate every single mind. Unfortunately it's simply not possible to react to every email and note I get, but I read them all. Keep writing to me. Thank You!

• Live vegan. Think vegan. And act vegan.

Last week I had an exhibition in Munich, so bellow You will be able to find some information about it.

Thanks to everyone who came to show their support and interest in my works. Even more thanks to those who shared their ideas, thoughts and many other things with me during that time. Special thanks to: Jonathan, Laima, Nicole, Michael and Jasmin.

Through my art I try to make people think about the absurdity of many things that were created by mankind. I would like people to think more about their actions by themselves and not to follow the mass blindly. If one chooses to do a wrong thing, it should be done by his/her own will and not just because the rest of humanity does the same wrong thing. I believe that art is one of the ways to make our world and the planet a better place.

Despite the fact that I always criticize mankind, I still kind of liked You, human beings.
I hope that people in Munich liked me a little bit as well and will be looking forward for the next time.

So, thank You for reading and being interested in my art!