Animals speak from beyond the grave

Following on from the success of Rod McRae’s Wunderkammer in 2013, the gallery will install a recent group of works titled After Life: Animal Stories from Beyond the Grave.

The exhibition features a collection of taxidermy animals and focuses on what it means to be wild and free versus domesticated.

Orange City Council’s Deputy Mayor Joanne McRae said the exhibition was a must see for all ages.

“The last Rod McRae exhibition was very popular, particularly with children,” Cr McRae said.

“The exhibition had really powerful and confronting messages throughout but on a more basic level it was an incredible sight to see.

“For example there was a lion reclining on a bed and a polar bear sitting on a freezer.

“I expect this latest exhibition to be just as moving and thought-provoking.”

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said the gallery had been loaned the exhibition by the Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo.

“It’s great to see regional cities working together to give people in regional areas these wonderful opportunities,” he said.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing these amazing pieces to Orange.”

Orange Regional Gallery Director Brad Hammond said that After Life looks at the way in which we humans use animals—trading, working, processing and slaughtering them for our needs.

The artist has composed the animals in ways that express these ideas.

“In the exhibition, all the animals suffer in some way from human possession, “Mr Hammond said.

“The animal exist for the sole purpose of working for, clothing or feeding humans.

“They’re no longer autonomous beings, rather they are things, objects, and possessions.

“It’s important to note all the animals in the exhibition have been ethically sourced”.

“All animals used died of natural causes, medical euthanasia, hunting, culling and food production and have been traded on, sometimes multiple times before they became part of this work.”

AFTER-LIFE Animal Stories from Beyond the Grave opens Friday July 20, 2018 at 6pm and will continue until August 19.