About

About the exhibition
A primary aim for us in creating this exhibition was to spotlight the experiences of Pavlov’s dogs, using scale models to explore their living conditions, relationships, and the nature of their involvement in experiments, including moments of resistance, whilst locating them within specific historical and geographical context. In doing so Pavlov and the Kingdom of Dogs seeks to challenge conventional perceptions of animal experimentation, the nature of scientific work, and the history of Psychology.

The exhibition aims to contribute to discussion about topics still relevant to the involvement of animals in research today, such as the ethics of animal research, how it is regulated, and how animal welfare is addressed. It joins a growing cultural conversation recognising the intelligence and complexity of non-human animals, the intricate interdependence between humans and other species, and the need to develop sensibilities rooted in awareness and respect for all forms of life.
The exhibition was made possible thanks to an Arts and Humanities Research Council Fellowship (AHRC, project ref AH/W006219/1), held by academic psychologist Dr Matthew Adams. As well as the production of this online exhibition, the project involved the creation of a physical exhibition, first shown in May 2024 in Brighton, UK, a graphic novel, also titled Pavlov & the Kingdom of Dogs, a two-day animal studies symposium, and various academic outputs such as journal articles and conference papers. It’s been a lot of fun.


Content warning
Whilst we shine a light upon the commonly discounted lives and experiences of laboratory animals, there are no polemics here, no attacks on Pavlov or laboratory workers. Audiences can make their own minds up about the value and appropriateness of the methods used. That said, some may find the content distressing, as it includes images and accounts of animal suffering.

About us
Pavlov & the Kingdom of Dogs was produced collaboratively, primarily by Matt Adams and Jim Wilson.
Matt Adams
Matt is the project’s academic lead, with primary responsibility for research, design and layout, as well as contributing to the process of making. Matt is a Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton. His research and teaching focus spans human-nature and human-animal relationships, psychology in the context of climate and ecological crisis and general topics related to social psychology and mental health.


Jim Wilson
Jim is the technical manager for the installation, with primary responsibility for constructing the artefacts as well as contributing to the design and layout. Jim is a designer, maker and educator based primarily at the University of Brighton. He works at all scales from jewellery to architectural and has a particular passion for sustainable design and ethical manufacture.
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to the remarkable scholarship of historian Daniel Todes, who’s exhaustive biography of the life and times of Pavlov we drew on extensively in developing this project (Ivan Pavlov: A Russian Life in Science, published by Oxford University Press in 2014).
Another invaluable resource has been the comprehensive collection of Pavlov’s papers from the final 30-years or so of his career, translated by Olga Yokoyama (Pavlov on the Conditional Reflex: Papers, 1903–1936, published by Oxford University Press in 2023).


Whilst we drawn on many additional sources, we must also mention here the Wellcome Collection, a London based museum and library focusing on the history of science, medicine and technology. The imagery and various artifacts sourced from their abundant archives have provided us with a rich visual resource.
Other people have made important contributions to the making of the exhibition
- Graphic designer and letterpress artist Rose Walker (Studio Pink)
- Graphic designer Luna Stephens
- Audio producer Simon Smith (VoiceBubble)
- Everyone involved at the design agency William Joseph
- Ade Kumins and the Tech Hub at the University of Brighton
- Sharon & John Whiting (35 North Gallery)
We also extend our thanks to a number of other people who have made important contributions to the design, planning and making of the exhibition:
- Lisa Alldred
- Ben Beasley
- Rowan Bradley-Scott
- Sophie Burrows
- Stuart Hedley
- Mark Joste
- Clare Levitt
- Jess Moriarty
- Thomas Roberts
- Zoltan Rutter
- Chara Vlachaki