Among the regular menagerie of pets trotting through Central Park on any given afternoon, you may now catch sight of a few curious newcomers flanking the southeast entrance. Leashed around a central post, a dozen sculptures of dogs prowl, stretch, and patiently pose, gazing at onlookers. The work is the first public exhibition in New York by prize-winning artist Camille Henrot, located off Fifth Avenue at Doris C. Freedman Plaza. In wood, steel, and stone, Henrot’s pack of carefully fashioned dogs emulate a jumble of iconic art and cultural references. An open book rests on top of a stout stone bulldog. A long-haired Yorkie, bronze-cast, glances around mournfully for her absent owner. A wolfy mid-sized dog stretches his paws, mid-yawn. They fit right into New York’s eclectic assortment of beloved pets, from chihuahuas in tiny boots, to a cat surveying the sidewalk from a stroller, to the many labs and retrievers tied patiently to bicycle racks. Simply titled “Dogs,” the piece celebrates the great variety of creature companions in parks and apartments around the city, as well as humanity’s long affair with these domesticated pets. Henrot’s choice to depict dogs without their implied walkers or owners allows viewers simply to consider the dogs on their own, with their myriad of personality quirks, silhouettes, dispositions, and whims. For dog lovers and park roamers alike, the sculptures are a delightful addition to a city stroll.
“Camille Henrot: Dogs”
