Performance, Performance Day Event, curated by Mehdi Yarmohammadi, Atelier des Artistes Le Shakirail, Paris, April 6, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM  

Autopsy of Neglect, lasting three hours, explores animal suffering and our relationship with non-human species. Inspired by the tragic death of my cat, Pasha, which I attribute to an unjustified surgery and mistreatment in a veterinary institution, this performance critiques the violence inflicted on animals under the guise of care.  

My body becomes the medium of denunciation. Dressed in fabrics symbolizing animal fur, surrounded by plastics evoking surgical tools, and wrapped in barbed wire representing hospital cages, I reenact Pasha’s pain and my own grief. These materials symbolize both the physical brutality endured by animals and the oppressive environment of institutions supposedly dedicated to their protection.  

During the performance, I repeatedly uttered the words “We must do something, they killed him” as a desperate plea, resonating with gestures inspired by animal behavior. These repetitions express helplessness in the face of injustice and highlight the lack of ethical oversight in veterinary institutions.  

The barbed wire injured my skin, evoking a cat’s scratches and underscoring our shared belonging to the animal kingdom. These wounds render the shared pain tangible, blurring the boundaries between human and non-human.  

Through this performance, I question our relationship with animals, denouncing exploitation and indifference while advocating for legal and ethical reform. This performance serves as a tribute to Pasha and a call for empathy and respect in our interactions with all living beings.