I Want Milk investigates the fusion of facts and fantasies about dairy consumption. It deals with the romanticised nature of dairy, the false beliefs around its health benefits, and the brutality of its production.
I started my investigation into this body of work when I began to learn about the environmental impact of the animal agriculture industry. This research gave me the realisation that society needs to reconsider the way we think about and consume animal products. While looking at the cultural history of dairy I discovered the deeply ingrained traditional relationship that we have with milk and dairy products. I found that contemporary milk production is clouded by a façade of romanticised imagery of frolicking cows on a flower bestrewn paddock. Behind the façade, however, lies a deeply brutal industry. The power of dairy has even taken on a mythological status within our contemporary society, with claims that it is essential for the health and growth of young children, much like the young cattle on the farm.