To combat the idea that history is the sole preserve of humans, French historian Eric Baratay began to study and document the stories of members of the animal kingdom. Combining written archives, images and ethological and environmental knowledge, Baratay pushes the boundaries of written history, offering new biographies – stories drawn from life or fragments of life – constructed around the feelings, perceptions and experiences of animals. Through Baratay’s work, we come to see animals in a completely different light: the giraffe of the Jardin des Plantes; Stevenson Modestine’s donkey; Warrior, a horse involved in World War I; Islero the bull, who caused the death of matador Manolete; Consul and Meshie, two humanized chimpanzees; and the dogs Lazarus and Bummer. 

Sept 20, 10.30am; free entry. Topic: Animals in the First World War. French International School of Guangzhou. 

Thu Sept 20, 7pm; free entry. Topic: Telling History for Individual Animals. Jinnan University. 

Fri Sept 21, 7.30pm; free entry. Topic: The History of Pet Cats. Fangsuo Commune.