The final piece of the story, the abattoir. 

We proudly invite you to the launch of Robert Parkinsons’ latest book ‘I Work with Animals’.

The book is a deeply personal exploration of the author's family history, centred around their father's time working as a slaughterer in an abattoir in Norway. Through a visual and narrative archive—comprising postcards, letters, beer mats, photographs, and other memorabilia— Rob reflects on his father's journey of gruelling work in the slaughterhouse to forge a better life for their family. The photographs document both the camaraderie among workers and the stark realities of slaughterhouse labour, capturing gruesome yet humanising scenes of pride in hard work. The book also delves into themes of familial love, working-class labour, ethical eating, and the growing detachment between consumers and the origins of their food. It contrasts this grounded reality with the contemporary sanitisation of working-class culture in art, positioning the archive as an honest, unsung testament to resilience, sacrifice, and heritage.

I Work with Animals by Robert Parkinson
Concertina Silver foil hand-made hardcover
240 x 130mm digital printing
50 pages
1st edition of 100

Typesetting Taxi Cab Industries
Published by Ceremony Press

28th Jan 2025
6 PM - 8 PM
Humbug, Kampus
Burger, Book & Display

Open to all.