Dachshunds United for Human Rights

'Ziggy' - one of 120 Dachshunds taking part in "Dachshund U.N."

If you live near Melbourne, Australia, you're not going to want to miss an art installment which will take place starting in mid-May at the Melbourne Museum in Carlton.  Forty-seven Sausage Dogs will be taking part in Dachshund U.N., an exhibit by artist Bennett Miller, who is building a scale model of the Geneva hall of nations, which he will fill with Dachshunds - one for each national delegate.  Excerpt from The Age:

The Dachshund U.N. will use 120 dachshunds over three consecutive Saturdays from May 15, as part of this year's Next Wave festival. Miller is a Perth-based artist whose Dachshund Otto is his regular muse.
Dachshunds, he says, ''are a good fit for the UN and for people. They have their own racial diversity - black, brown, red. Also, even though they're restricted in their movement, they are quite determined and proud.''
The Dachshund Club of Victoria was wary when first approached by Miller. ''I wanted to make sure he was legitimate,'' says club secretary and dachshund breeder Corrienne Irvin, ''and only agreed once I was satisfied that he wasn't portraying the dogs in a demeaning way. Then I was quite happy to help him get 100 dachshunds.''
The project still needs another 20 dogs.

Find out more about the project at Next Wave.

In January of this year, the artist Bennett Miller created Dachshund Topiary Maze, an installment of wood, Topiary trees, Dachshund, and water soluble paint as part of GARDEN//ART//ACTION in Perth. Dachshunds were invited to attempt the topiary maze, while a human audience viewed the action from above.  Source.

Finding A Few Good Dachshunds: A Meeting Of Potential Delegates

We're so proud, some folks actually DO read our little blog here!  Thanks so much for sticking with us over the years and giving us a shout out.  We hinted a few weeks ago that Dachshund UN, Australian artist Bennett Miller's traveling art installation, was about to make its way to the North American continent as a part of The 2013 World Stage season at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre.  Some Dachshunds took note, and have already auditioned to take part!  We're so jealous of you Canadians, you're gonna have such a great time. 

From the video notes:  Last Sunday a handful of owners and their pups met with the creator of Dachshund UN, Bennett Miller, at Paws Way. By now you may have heard that the performance that "stretches the boundaries of ... live art" will be making it's North American debut here at Harbourfront Centre as part of the 2013 World Stage season. The owners were very excited to meet Bennett and potentially be a part of this exciting show.

Find out more about the event at the Harbourfront Centre.

Related:  Looking For A Few Good Dachshunds

Related:  Dachshund UN

Dachshund UN Back in Australia

After a brief stint in the UK, Dachshund UN, Australian artist Bennett Miller's traveling art installation, has returned to Australia, appearing in Sydney over the weekend.  Excerpt from MSN:

It was puppy power en masse when the Dachshund United Nations met in Sydney yesterday. The sausage dog diplomacy took place in a wood-panel amphitheater created by artist Bennett Miller to resemble the UN's New York auditorium. Instead of dozing humans, there were dozens of dachshunds having their say on important matters, while their owners looked on approvingly. Many of the serious players sported doggie jackets on account of the bad weather, but courageously pushed on with their vital work regardless. We're happy to say there were no reported "motions" left on the seats after the assembly wrapped up for the day.

Dachshund U.N. - November 13 at Perth PICA

Dachshund U.N., a performance and art installation, continues its rounds around Australia, seen most recently here in Perth.  This is a nice video which recaps the day's events by youtuber tokenskepticpodcast who notes: 
A gathering of minds like no other! This is a short film I made of all the fine furry delegates from Perth, who came to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts in order to take part in Perth artist Bennett Miller's 'Dachshund U.N'.  Dachshund U.N is both a large-scale architectural installation and a participatory performance work that examines the role of the United Nations as a risk management organisation. Bennett transformed the Perth Cultural Centre Amphitheatre into a replica of the former U.N office in Geneva, Switzerland. The structure played host over two Saturdays in November, with all the delegates played by local live dachshunds!

Related:  Dachshund U.N. Coverage

Dachshund UN Travels to the UK

Australian artist Bennett Miller's Dachshund UN traveling art installation has broken the boundaries of Australia, showing up Saturday as part of the live art Fierce Festival in Birmingham, England.  47 Dachshunds from all over the West Midlands participated in the event.  Excerpt from the Sunday Mercury:

The international body is often accused of having no teeth but there were plenty of gnashers on show in the reproduction assembly.
The mock UN meeting took place outside the Ikon Gallery, in Oozells Square. Exhibition bosses said the scale replica of a former UN office in Geneva was designed to be thought-provoking on the issue of human rights.
An exhibition spokesman said: “Dachshund UN is both a large scale architectural installation and a performance work that examines the role of the United Nations as a risk management organisation.

Related:  More Dachshund UN

Dachshund U.N. - Video From Week Two

The second session of Dachshund U.N. took place on Saturday, May 22nd.  We're hoping that they solve all the world's problems by the time they convene for the final time next weekend.  Thanks to youtuber RobotManGreg for the video. He notes:  Dachshund U.N. A performance and architectural installation by Bennett Miller at Melbourne 2010 Next Wave Festival, Australia.  A scale replica of former U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland, on the site of Australia's first Parliament: Royal Exhibition Building.

Related:  Dachshund U.N. Photos and Video

Related:  Dachshunds United for Human Rights

United Dachshunds

"We, the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal right of men and women and of nations large and small....And for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors...have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims." ~ Preamble, Charter of the United Nations.

Photo by Jaskirt Dhaliwal, for Bennett Miller's Dachshund UN in Birmingham, England, last weekend.

141 Dachshunds

We're sure that you remember Dachshund U.N., a travelling performance and architectural installation by Bennett Miller in 2010, which made its way around Australia and featured a U.N. replica with Dachshunds as delegates!   The project was also made into a 12-minute short film by director Sambodhi Field, which is now making the rounds at some film festivals.  Keep up with the film on facebook. 
Here's a short trailer. 
We covered the project extensively in the archives, but the search function isn't working too well at the moment.  Best bet is to click here for an Australia search and weed through the posts if you're so inclined.

Dachshund U.N. Photos and Video

If there's one thing we love about reporting Dachshund news, it's events like this. Dachshund U.N. has begun in Melbourne, Australia!  Dachshunds are seen here in these photos by Getty Images during a performance and art installation titled 'Dachshund U.N.' at the Melbourne Museum on May 15, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. The installation by Perth artist Bennett Miller (also seen in a few of the photos), is part of the Next Wave Festival and sees 47 Dachshunds representing national delegates taking part in a meeting of the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights, "examining the role of the United Nations as a risk management organization."

How well trained they all are to sit and stay for photos!  The installation will run for two more Saturdays.  If you live near Melbourne, don't miss it!  Find out more at Next Wave.

Related:  Dachshunds United for Human Rights



Here's a A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of Dachshund U.N.