This Kick-About nearly didn’t come to anything as I became so frustrated with my attempts of portraying the Sputnik satellite!Ā Then, I remembered Laika, the first living creature sent into space.
Head on over to Phil’s blog and see what others have presented there; here is the link:
https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/105453159/posts/5720829722
Ā
Here are a few of my scruffy sketches:
I must have binned more than 50 such drawings before realising that there was another story to tell, one about a dog called Laika: the real Dog Star! She must have died in so much pain and for what? Why do we treat animals, sentient beings, in such an exploitive way?
Ashley
A Different View 
thank you for saying this Ashley.
i don’t want to get overly crazy on this because I know that there are animals sacrificed every day “in the name of science ” and for food. i hate it but i have to acknowledge its presence.
still, Laika’s story is more than heartbreaking to me, it is a reminder of what certain ideological paradigms breed and how they regard life.
i honestly believe the gods saw what the commisars did to Laika and cursed them every day ever since. same thing with the “state council” over in Asia. that’s why, to this moment, they are reduced to a 24 hours/7 days a week cycle of hiding and obfuscating the realities of what their ideologies produced – under the guise of GDP and economic growth metrics.
poor sweet Laika. she died slowly
in pain
and afraid.
everyone involved in that launch knew it.
i pray to themis & athena that i never have to live in a world where i am coerced to do something that morally reprehensible. and that’s why i’ll always vote emphatically against politicians that consciously – or more often, through subterfuge – endorse the policies that lay the groundwork for a world like that to exist.
Mike
also – nice sketches š
Thank you Michael for your passionate response. Your words say it all: she died slowly in pain and afraid! š¤šš
Good one Ashley, I agree poor dog, she is famous.xx
Dear Ute, thank you, she is a star! āšā
I thought about Belka and Strelka right away
Now they were a bit later and they returned to earth, I think! Thanks Milena, I shall have to look them up. š¤š
They did return, you are right
For example, I think it’s the same as the loss of many animal lives in clinical trials for the advancement of medicine and pharmaceuticals. This was a time when we had no idea whether humans could survive in outer space…š¢
You are right! The questions around using animals for “scientific purposes” are still with us today, in fact even more so! Thank you for your thoughtful response. āšā
I actually like those spare drawings.
And great minds…I have been haunted by Laika ever since I read about her. (K)
Thank you Kerfe! Indeed, we seem to be on the same wavelength! š¤šāš I remember seeing the event in my father’s newspaper and of course it was all the talk at school (I was only 7 at the time). It was only later in my teens and adulthood that I thought more deeply about these things by which time they were able to bring the animals safely back to earth. Nevertheless, animal testing still goes on, remaining a contentious subject.
It does unfortunately. I understand the reasoning but it makes me uncomfortable.
I love your tribute to Laika. She does indeed deserve a star. I noticed that another contributor, Kerfe Roig, also remembered Laika.
Dear Rosaliene, thank you for your lovely comment. Indeed Kerfe and and many others seem to be on the same wavelength! There is a star called the Dog Star, called Sirius; I suppose we can’t change that ancient name now (to Laika). š¤šāš
NASA named a spot on Mars, Laika.
Thanks, Edo-san, I didn’t know that one! āāš
Excellent abstraction of the Sputnik and well-remembered Laika, Ashley!
Thank you Indira, for your lovely comments. š¤š
I like your scruffy sketches, Asheaf-sama, and the piece you finally ended up with is fantastic! I think it’s inhumane to use animals for experimentation.
correction “Ashleaf-sama,”
šāāļøšāāļøšāāļø
Thank you for your great comments. I really should do more calligraphy! šāāļøš
Right, Laika… I’d nearly pushed that story out of my mind. Your work really brings it back in such a powerful way, Ashley!
Dear Migy, I’m happy that my work has had such an impact. I really wasn’t sure, especially about the “calligraphic” version but Laika saved me! šāšš
I remember poor Laika, the first living creature sent into space, vividly.
Yes! I was only 7 years old but remember it well, although not the heartache I feel now! š¤š
I was very young too and the story hurt me a lot š¶
Awwww, sweet Laika! Enjoy the weekend, Ashley! āļø
Thank you, Lisa. š¶š
ššāāļø
Grazie ššØ
I like your process and the thought and feeling you invested in your art . It resonates with me. Well done š„°š«š
Thank you for your lovely comments, Moray. Exploring my art continues, the journey is frustrating at times but still very enjoyable. š¤š
You’re welcome, and keep going šØš