Art & creativity, Things to do  |  26 Mar 2019

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If you love dogs and art, then you are going to love Christchurch Art Gallery’s upcoming exhibition.

The exhibition showcases the work of American-based artist William Wegman and tracks the relationship between the enigmatic artist and his four-legged muses.

William Wegman, Constructivism, 2014. Pigment print photograph. Courtesy the artist. © William Wegman

Dogs have featured in Wegman’s artworks ever since he brought his Weimaraner dog, Man Ray, to his studio in 1970.

Man Ray was became one of Wegman’s most important inspirations and featured prominently in his artworks in the 1970s.

In the mid 1980s Wegman’s second Weimaraner, Fay Ray, shot to art world stardom, followed by several generations of puppies.

While Wegman’s world revolves around his celebrated dogs, his choice of sets, costumes, and props reveal a fascination with art history – cubism, colour field painting, abstract expressionism, constructivism, conceptualism, and of course photography itself.

Christchurch Art Gallery director Blair Jackson says he is thrilled that such a thorough representation of Wegman’s work will soon be on display at the gallery.

“William Wegman is part of the late 1960s/early 1970s American conceptualist movement – he is famous for working with his dogs and has produced a huge body of work that examines the human condition through photography and video.’’

Mr Jackson says working with Wegman continues the gallery’s legacy of collaboration with a wide range of international artists, including Ron Mueck, Bridget Riley and Martin Creed. 

“It will be the first paying show we’ve offered since Mueck’s exhibition,’’ Mr Jackson says. “I hope people walk away with a sense of fun and enjoyment, and experience something that is unique to them.’’

William Wegman: Being Human opens at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū on 6 April and runs through until 28 July. Entry is $12 for adults and $6 for children aged five to 15.