Raf's Intervention

KITKILL 

Unsafe abortion is a major cause of injury and death among women worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 25 million unsafe abortions take place annually. WHO estimates that at least 7.9% of maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortion.

Inducing an abortion without medical supervision by self-administering abortifacient over-the-counter drugs, drugs obtained illegally, or by using drugs not indicated for abortion but known to result in miscarriage or uterine contraction.

Trying to break the amniotic sac inside the womb with a sharp object or wire (for example an unbent wire clothes hanger or knitting needle).This method can cause infection or injury to internal organs (for example perforating the uterus or intestines).

Pumping toxic mixtures, such as chili peppers and chemicals like alum, Lysol, permanganate, or plant poison into the body of the woman. This method can cause the woman to go into toxic shock and die.

In 2005, the Detroit News reported that a 16-year-old boy, at his pregnant, under-age girlfriend's request, repeatedly beat her abdomen with a bat. They were evading a state law requiring a minor to receive a parent's or a judge's consent to legally abort.

For my assignment, I created a series of artworks featuring bunnies using different methods to kill their young. My work here is inspired greatly by Sanrio and their characters like Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, and Pochacco. By pairing this cute art style with subtle and disturbing imagery, I've managed to create the series Kitkill. 

The name 'Kitkill' is pretty straightforward. It takes the term 'kitbashing' (a term used for miniature model enthusiasts mix and matching, 'bashing' model 'kits' together to make something new). A kit is what you call a baby rabbit, and from there we're basically talking about killing baby rabbits. "We need symbols, they are a way of making groups, causes, messages, and ideas less abstract, more visible, and easier to convey. But symbols are slippery: they can and will be interpreted differently by different audiences."

Much of my research was centered around finding places that outlaw abortion or limit women's reproductive rights, forcing women and girls as young as twelve to give birth to a child they never wanted or simply aren't prepared to raise. There are a few exceptions for abortions to happen, like in cases of rape or to save the mother, but for cases that happen because of mistakes, awaits another body in the orphanage or another case for Child Protective Services. But even if I were to research about women's reproductive rights and spreading it, what's really the basis for my research? I dug in order to answer why this issue truly endangered lives, and began to discover methods of unsafe and illegal abortions.

The artists that I take after in terms of the idea and intent, is after the Guerilla Girls themselves. Their artwork, their posters, and their gimmick is a provocation to the art world and a great attention grabber for publicity. They grab people's eyes forcibly using humor, and with it's lighthearted nature, effectively sheds more light on the issues not commonly talked about. It creates discussion, it sparks ideas in people's heads. I wanted to perform the same idea, where I'd present these disturbing topics in a cutesy form that brings attention to them.

This is where my project surely shines, in showing the results of outlawed abortions and how much messier things got as a result. My mind goes back to the Prohibition, where we outlawed alcohol only to make the issue worse. It encouraged everyone make more speakeasies, to continue making alcohol, and the illegal business surrounding it was made even better. "But art is also used to challenge authority and privilege, often precisely by challenging how those in power see the world. That privileged perspective is confronted when artists represent reality in different lights, showing the world from different perspectives." (pg. 138) My artwork is meant to show what people end up doing in states that outlaw abortion, and the violence associated with these cases.

My artwork has a home on it's own twitter (or unfortunately called X)

While not physically printed and posted due to real life complications, I've managed to spread it around on online communities and, not only receive feedback, but reactions as well. Most people talk about how cute it is! Some people actually see the artwork for what it is, talking about it's content and surprised that a male artist (yours truly) is putting their own footprint in the discussion about women's reproductive rights.

Some communities where I slapped it up that talked big game about welcoming any art, would immediately take it down realizing what the context is. Some people are still uncomfortable with the topic, and to protect their safe space and prohibiting political talk, would delete and ignore the artwork.