Wild art with a mission: meet Rabbitwoman, Dogman and their friends at Waurn Ponds
Amongst the eucalypts and rolling green lawns of Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, a rabbit and a dog are hosting a lavish banquet for a table of creatures, while nearby a parade of animals peddle off on one, long tandem bicycle.
Donated to the University by internationally acclaimed British and Australian artists Gillie and Marc, they’re the latest additions to Deakin’s unique sculpture collection for all students to enjoy. The works, now part of the Deakin Art Collection at the Waurn Ponds campus, celebrate wildlife, creativity and our shared responsibility to protect the natural world.
Saving endangered animals starts with awareness, and awareness starts with education. That’s why we chose these works for Deakin University,’ Gillie and Marc said in a statement announcing the donation.
A call to save our endangered wildlife
The donated sculptures, The Wild Banquet and They Were On a Wild Ride to a Safer Place feature the artists beloved characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, and pay homage to the magnificence of the natural world and the necessity of preserving it.
They invite audiences to step into these conversations by taking a seat at the Wild Banquet table with some of the world’s most endangered animals and go on a wild bike ride with an African elephant and Masai giraffe.
We believe that when students can physically interact with these animals, sit with them, ride with them, and feel their presence, they build a deeper emotional connection and a genuine understanding of what is at risk.
The artists’ ‘hope is that every interaction sparks a reminder that every species matters and that their choices can help protect the wild world. These works are our invitation to join the mission, to stand for love, and to fight for the animals who cannot fight for themselves.’
Sit amongst wild animals
At a table or on a very long tandem bike!
Wild Banquet features Rabbitwoman and Dogman hosting a feast for twenty of the world’s most endangered animals, with empty seats inviting you to join the mission to protect wildlife.
Wild Ride depicts an extraordinary tandem bike journey with endangered species, including an African elephant, a Masai giraffe and northern white rhino, racing toward safety as a powerful metaphor for collective action against extinction.
Remember to grab a pic and tag us @deakinlife.
Did you know?
The Deakin University Art Collection is one of Australia’s most significant university collections, featuring works by leading contemporary artists, First Peoples creators, and Deakin’s own students and staff. It’s also one of the most publicly accessible in Australia, with 56% of it on display across Deakin’s campuses. Follow Deakin Art Gallery on Instagram