Creature Discomforts explores our changing attitudes towards animals as a form of decoration. 

It compares the current trend for taxidermy in contemporary art with historic artefacts from public museums and private collections.  These include objects such as an albatross foot purse, an armadillo sewing basket, a peacock turban and a kiwi beak brooch – all coveted and glamorous accessories in their time but now considered gruesome relics of a different era. 

By making direct comparisons between the image and ‘thing’, this exhibition seriously questions taste and fashion as well as raising a number of challenging ethical issues.

Artists include: Laurence Aberhart, Lisa Black, Joanna Braithwaite, Alison Clouston, Julia deVille, Fiona Pardington, Neil Pardington, Angela Singer

With thanks to the following lenders:

Eclectic: Antiques, Art Deco, Retro and Vintage Clothing, Nelson

Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao

Te Manawa, Palmerston North

Whanganui Regional Museum

Bowen Galleries, Wellington

McNamara Gallery, Whanganui

Suite Gallery, Wellington

The James Wallace Arts Trust

OREX Art Gallery, Auckland

Paratiho Farms and the WOW Museum Collection