The Artful World of Animals
Exhibition
Group exhibition at University Hall, The University of Melbourne, September 2013, in conjunction with the Festival of Ideas
Overview
About the exhibition
‘The Artful World of Animals’, curated by Purnima Ruanglertbutr, featured the world’s most spectacular and beloved creatures, both large and small, exotic and familiar, from both animal and human perspectives.
Contributors were invited to develop critical and creative interpretations of animals, utilising a variety of mediums, art styles, and techniques. Some questions that exhibitors explored in their artworks include: Is there such a thing as an animal perspective, and what might this world look like? What kinds of interactions exist between human beings and animals? What are the impacts of human beings on the animal world? What sentiments are stirred within and between animals and towards animals? Contributors were able to creatively address the biology of animals, from single cells to ecosystems. Whether through abstraction or figuration, symbols or metaphors, exhibitors were encouraged to think divergently on the theme and combine nature, animals, and art in a myriad of ways. From the curious to the marvellous, this exhibition stands as a testament to the importance of animals in human culture.
Exhibition trailer
Supported by the Melbourne University Veterinary Society and the Melbourne School of Veterinary Science, ‘The Artful World of Animals’ celebrates 50 years of the School’s excellence in teaching and its close ties with the veterinary profession. The exhibition ran in conjunction with the 2013 Festival of Ideas, ‘The Art and Science of Wellbeing,’ which aimed to capture and express the unique ability of the higher education sector to contribute to national and global conversations.
Artist's statement
Rationale
Purnima holds a deep appreciation for the natural and animal world and has been exploring Australia’s coastlines, countrysides, and cities since her migration in 2005. Equipped with a camera and an artist’s toolkit, she captures the captivating wonders of nature.
In the photography series ‘Artful Animals’ (2011–2012), Purnima employs digital manipulation techniques to challenge the subjectivity of perception, emphasising colours, shapes, textures, and contrasts. This series, along with ‘The Wild’ (2012–2013), delves into the innate characteristics of animals that humans instinctively attribute to them.
The photograph ‘Mali’ (2010) symbolises the tensions between conservation and animal justice. Mali, the first female elephant born in Australia through artificial insemination, represents zoos’ support for endangered Asian elephants and their conservation efforts, including the establishment of a self-sustaining elephant herd in Australasia. While Mali appears endearing in the photograph, her enclosure in the inner suburbs of Melbourne highlights the dichotomy between the exhilaration of life and an inherited existence.
Gallery
Exhibition Enquiries
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