Bantam Breeding

In 1991 Zittel attempted to create a new breed of chicken after conducting research suggesting that it might be possible to do so over the course of about five years. Bantam chickens were selected for their miniature and manageable size, as well as their distinct genetic traits (such as fuzzy feathers, topknots, feathered legs, and a wide range of color variations)

The work was inspired by the modern conception of the “purebred,” introduced during the mid-eighteenth century. Zittel wanted to explore the ingrained social impulse to create a hierarchy of lineage and explores the expression of this impulse in art and design.