locust, unlimited edition

The research aim of Locust was to create a sculptural work which addressed themes of mass consumption, utopia, dystopia, nature and culture, illusion and dissolution. This was contemporaneous with the re-emergence of devastating locust plagues around the world and a rising public anxiety around climate change and human/animal relations. Perry addressed these themes through a sculptural artwork that resembled a large open packing crate filled with many locusts (plastic models).The installation was set up in such a way as to evoke a field of expectation, suggesting both the imminent distribution of individual locusts and their endless consumption, reproduction and replacement. It enabled viewers to review their feelings on the preservation of animal species and their potential destruction, in this case of precious crops, in a setting where the animal was in the context of `precious' in the crate. This work aligned with the exhibition's wider exploration of debate about animal rights and ecology. The Idea of Animal was co-curated by Suzanne Davies and Linda Williams and featured a selection of works by 29 Australian and international artists in a diversity of media from large scale paintings, sculpture, installation, video and live performance, presenting challenging works that thoughtfully delve into a range of the issues around the complexity of animal/human relationships. The exhibition covered a broad thematic landscape that included the domestication of animals for companionship and farming, the meat industry, scientific experimentation and species extinction. High profile press and media coverage included: Sally Nolan, ABC Radio National, The Deep End interview with Perry; October 06; Sarah Tutton, Art & Australia `The Idea of the Animal', Vol 44 No3 Autumn 07, p.330 Linda Williams, catalogue essay, ISBN 0957949.

Locust（蝗虫）这件作品的研究主旨，在于创作一件探讨大众消费、乌托邦、反乌托邦、自然与文化、幻象与消解等主题的雕塑作品。彼时正值全球毁灭性蝗灾卷土重来之际，公众对气候变化以及人与动物关系的焦虑也与日俱增。佩里通过一件外形酷似大型开放式货运包装箱的雕塑作品呈现了这些主题——箱内布满塑料制成的蝗虫模型。该装置艺术（installation）的展陈方式营造出充满期待感的场域，既暗示着单只蝗虫即将被分发的场景，也隐喻着它们无休止的啃食、繁衍与更替。观众借此得以审视自身对于动物物种保护与动物物种潜在毁灭的态度：在这件作品的语境中，包装箱内的蝗虫被赋予了“珍贵”的属性，恰好对应现实中珍贵农作物惨遭蝗灾吞噬的场景。该作品与本次展览对动物权利与生态议题的整体探讨形成呼应。《动物之思》（The Idea of Animal）展览由苏珊·戴维斯（Suzanne Davies）与琳达·威廉姆斯（Linda Williams）联合策展，汇聚了29位澳大利亚及国际艺术家的多元媒介作品，涵盖大型绘画、雕塑、装置艺术（installation）、影像与现场表演（live performance），这些极具思辨性的作品深入剖析了人与动物复杂关系背后的一系列议题。本次展览的主题范畴十分广博，涵盖了动物的陪伴驯化与养殖、肉类产业、科学实验以及物种灭绝等议题。该展览获得了广泛的主流媒体报道，其中包括：萨莉·诺兰（Sally Nolan）在澳大利亚广播公司国家电台（ABC Radio National）《深度访谈》（The Deep End）栏目对佩里的专访（刊发于10月6日）；莎拉·塔顿（Sarah Tutton）发表于《澳大利亚艺术》（Art & Australia）2007年秋季号第44卷第3期第330页的文章《动物之思》（The Idea of the Animal）；以及琳达·威廉姆斯撰写的展览画册论文（ISBN 0957949）。