ANNA CULLITON
Native Pets

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Literally presenting us with "handfuls" of native wildlife, Anna Culliton's third solo exhibition at NG Art Gallery confronts us with an array of Australia's most treasured marsupials, mammals and cold blooded critters. As with Culliton's previous exhibitions a certain naivete intrigues us into the heart of her story.

 

Culliton's trademark tiles become framed moments that capture rare glimpses of harmonious interactions between owners and their pets. No longer the family dog or cat, each piece dispels the notion of the exotic, untouchable and unfamiliar, rather, Australia's unique native animals are placed into familiar and intimate surroundings breaking our accepted notions of what is a domestic pet.

Here, the central characters are not of the human variety. Vivid colours and lighthearted scenarios bring the distinctiveness of each animal to the forefront. It is almost bazaar to witness the unnatural pairings and circumstances of each scene.

 

However, Native Pets reveals itself to be much more than a meshing of two worlds. As with all of Culliton's exhibitions her personal experience dominates the idea behind her works. Having worked as a WIRES rescuer, Culliton's four year encounter with rescued Joey, Roly, who she cared for after its mother could not be saved having broken both legs from being caught in a fence. This, for Culliton, initiates, a very important dialogue about the contradicting lines of policy that prevent native animals from being cared for as pets but provides us with a license to kill them.

Fittingly, Professor of Zoology Mike Archer of UNSW will open the exhibition.

 

Previous Exhibitions

Cowboy Clay

Miss Molly's Ceramic Circus

For further information, please email ng@ngart.com.au