GENERATION D
Imagine a world where dogs have replaced babies and kids. Statistical numbers show that we have around 1,6 children per family in Norway 2018 (a decrease of 0,4 from 2008), _ cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ and we had 1,2 dogs per family in 2008. We now recognize and accept that dogs are sentient beings, and have done for some years. Some are getting dogs as family members instead of children, not as pets. Are dogs the new babies of the 21st century? _Cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ I will be staging photographs where dogs replace children in a “normal day” ._ cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
A couple in Australia got tired of being asked the question about when they were going to get kids of their own, so they hired a photographer and had a “newborn” session with their dog. Because for them, the dog was their baby. Why are millennials getting dogs instead of babies? Millennials are known for being commitment-phobic, cash-strapped, travel-obsessed and career-prioritizing, and a dog is easier to fit into this kind of lifestyle.
People treating their dogs more and more like human babies, they are spending a lot of money on luxury hotels and spa treatments designed for dogs, buying premium dog food etc. It is getting easier to travel with dogs , we got kindergartens for dogs and special pet-strollers. Will dogs replace our human babies?
When I started this project I was sure it would be fairly easy to find dogs. But seeing as there was a disease outbreak in Norway it was more difficult. Something else that proved it self difficult was to find dogs where the owners had props like children's clothing, beds, toys etc that I could use for the shoot. So I started collecting free props from finn.no. This is something I could have started on earlier on.
