Andria Keen

A Anting We Will Go

Culture is both consumed and consuming. As an individual and part of the collective, how troubled and troubling the ethics of influence become.

“The title, A Anting We Will Go, references an early colonial nursery rhyme focused on the conquest and consumption of animals. It reflects on how culture is both consumed and consuming, and how troubled and troubling the ethics of influence can become. Anting is a phenomenon of birds, including Ravens, to lay down in ant hills to cover their wings in ants, crush their bodies, releasing the ants formic acid before rubbing their bodies through the feathers and consuming them. The formic acid is supposed to act as a soothing fungicide for the wings. Scientists are still undecided wether this is a pleasure seeking, self care practice, or other. ”