Artwork Information

Peter Peryer has often made photographs of animals and objects that appear as if they are living creatures but are, in actuality, not. Penguins is such an instance of this ambiguity. After close study it becomes apparent that they are not living penguins but highly skilled modelled replicas which have been carefully painted to simulate the appearance of real animals. By delighting in the folk art that has often appeared in New Zealand’s domestic contexts, the artist profiles the close relationship that animals have with the human inhabitants of New Zealand.