Clocking Off
2018. EXPERIMENTICA. CHAPTER, Cardiff, UK.
What does retirement and free time look like for a retired guide dog?
Clocking Off is a workshop and public parade made in collaboration with retired and working guide dogs. Banners and props were made in a workshop environment with the guide dogs and their human owners. The parade acts to commemorate the working life of the guide dog, mark their service to human health and celebrate the free time associated with retirement.
This project forms part of my ongoing and current research with the Centre for the History of Science and Medicine (CHSTM) at the University of Manchester.
In presenting examples of non-human animals who provide wellbeing for human health, the research intends to emphasise and honour the working life of animals, whilst highlighting the potential of interspecies collaboration across the specific fields of contemporary performance, animal therapy and biotherapies.
© Kathryn Ashill 2023