he beagle in my piece represents the hidden cost of medical progress. These dogs are often used in experiments, which many people are unaware of — or choose not to think about. The number on its ear translates to “sorry.” It is simple, almost quiet — like an apology that does not change anything. The green numbers in the background show how many human lives have been saved by medicine, while the red indicate how many beagles died for this progress. The contrast matters: one is distant and small, the other feels overwhelming.
The red cross is intentional — it can represent hospitals, healing, and medicine, but also death, like a grave marker. That dual meaning is important. It reflects the idea that saving lives and taking lives are not separate here — they exist together.
I am not trying to make this comfortable. The piece shows something real — something people benefit from every day. It is cruel. But it is also necessary, and that is the tension I want people to experience.