Costumed canines captivate art gallery visitors

An art exhibition featuring costumed canines is proving popular with visitors to the Christchurch Art Gallery.

The exhibition opened earlier this month and showcases the work of respected New York-based artist and photographer William Wegman, who has achieved international recognition for his carefully staged photos and videos of his own weimaraner dogs.

Often dressed in wigs and elaborate costumes, the dogs are the artist’s collaborators, or muses.

“William Wegman: Being Human is a fun, playful exhibition and it has been great to see the fascination and delight in our visitors’ reactions to the works,” says Christchurch Art Gallery Director Blair Jackson. “Wegman's luscious photography offers a lighter moment that allows us all to consider in a humorous way what it is to be human.”

The exhibition is the first ticketed show at the art gallery since the Ron Mueck exhibition in the summer of 2010/2011.

Admission costs $12 for adults and $6 for children aged five to 15.

William Wegman: Being Human is on at the gallery until 28 July 2019.