Dezeen Magazine

Dominic Wilcox designs contemporary art exhibition for dogs

British inventor Dominic Wilcox has designed a contemporary art exhibition for our canine counterparts, featuring a dog bowl-shaped ball pool and an open car window simulator (+ movie).

The Play More exhibition in south London is filled with interactive installations based on activities that dogs enjoy.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
To help dogs have the best view possible, the works at the Play More exhibition are displayed at the base of the gallery's walls

Three of Wilcox's own exhibits are among the works on show, as well as paintings and interactive experiences by five other British artists.

One of Wilcox's installations, named Cruising Canines, is an open car window simulator where a giant fan wafts a dog's favourite scents, like raw meat and old shoes.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
Dominic Wilcox produced a number of original works for the show, including Cruising Canines, an open car window simulator

His second piece, titled Dinnertime Dreams, is a dog-friendly ball pool. For this installation, Wilcox created a giant dog bowl and filled it with brown balls designed to look like dog biscuits.

A third installation plays on a dog's love for water, and features a series of dancing water jets for them to chase.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
Wilcox's Dinnertime Dreams is a dog-friendly ball pool

Wilcox – known for his playful and experimental inventions – was commissioned by insurance company More Than to create the exhibition. The goal is to encourage dog owners to spend more time with their pets.

"Contemporary art has long been an important source of inspiration and fascination for humans, but never before has it been created with a view to drawing the same kind of emotions out of animals instead," said Wilcox.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
The ball pool is shaped like a giant food bowl and filled with brown balls that look like dog biscuits

Among Wilcox's playful works are a selection of original paintings and multimedia exhibits by artists Nick White, Clare Mallison, Joanne Hummel-Newell, Robert Nicol and Michelle Thompson.

While White's Catch multimedia installation simulates a frisbee bouncing around a screen, Hummel-Newell presents her interpretation of a dog's excitement when the post arrives.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
Norfolk artist Robert Nicol painted landscape scenes where chicken drumsticks appear as trees

Hackney-based illustrator Mallison depicted a woodland scene, Norfolk artist Nicol painted a park where chicken drumsticks appear as trees, and illustrator Thompson created a visual representation of a dog's movements while out on a walk.

All exhibitors worked alongside veterinary experts, who advised on the best ways to mentally and physically stimulate the canine visitors.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
Nick White's Catch installation simulates a frisbee bouncing around a screen

Each artist tailored their works to suit a dog's ability to only see grey, yellow and blue colours. To help them have the best view possible, all of the pieces are displayed at the base of the gallery's walls.

The Play More exhibition is located on Tanner Street in London, and is open on 19 and 20 August 2016.

Play More dog exhibition by Dominic Wilcox and More Than
The fans in Cruising Canines waft a dog's favourite scents, like raw meat and old shoes

In an interview with Dezeen, Wilcox stated that he is "deadly serious about being playful", and urged creatives to not "worry about what other people think".

"I believe that playfulness in design – particularly at the beginning, at the ideas stage – is really important," said the London designer, whose other surreal inventions include a car made from stained glass and a series of absurd breakfast accessories to encourage children to eat in the mornings.