Peng Hung-chih (彭宏賢) has focused his creative energy on images of dogs since 1999. For his current installation show at IT Park gallery called “Dog Matters,” Peng has made his largest dog sculpture ever, a white Dalmatian the size of a person, dotted by the insertion of dark dots. The piece nearly takes up the entire second floor gallery space.
The little toy dogs, with names like little Danny, shake their heads, wag their tails, and walk forward and bark when viewers push a button. Though the electrical system broke down on the day of the show’s opening, the intent showing an uplifting dog spirit was there. If you lift the big, black ears of the giant Dalmatian and look inside, you will see a spectacular scene of wires entangled inside the huge hollow space of the dog sculpture.
The other part of the installation projects is on the third floor where five dog sculptures made of fiberglass are situated in standing, lying or crouching positions. Near each of the faces of the dogs is an LCD screen showing a video of a dog’s-eye-view as a dog eats, runs and plays. Visitors will have to squat, ride on the dog or crouch close to the floor to see the video.
Why did Peng Choose dogs as his subject? “Because they are like humans,” said Peng plainly. Peng added he likes working with dogs because they are gregarious, they have emotions and a personality, like humans. Peng said he hoped to begin a project in which hundreds of dogs bark in unison. Peng’s show will run through July until Aug. 4 at IT Park, 3F., 41 Yitong St., Taipei (台北市伊通街41號3樓).
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