Weekes2016 | Stella Downer Fine Art - Dealer Consultant & Valuer

Armadillo: Ball-curling and acupuncture machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Armadillo: Ball-curling and acupuncture machine

Beaver: Wood-chewing, training machine with inbuilt tail metronome by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Beaver: Wood-chewing, training machine with inbuilt tail metronome

Bower bird: Blue object selecting and collecting training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Bower bird: Blue object selecting and collecting training machine

Bison: Hair-trim, close shave, beautifying machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Bison: Hair-trim, close shave, beautifying machine

Crocodile: Skin-cleaning and tooth cleaning machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Crocodile: Skin-cleaning and tooth cleaning machine

Chameleon: Target practice machine and colour restoration by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Chameleon: Target practice machine and colour restoration

Cheetah: Spot restoration and skin varnishing retouch machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Cheetah: Spot restoration and skin varnishing retouch machine

Chicken: Egg extraction, rolling and packing machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Chicken: Egg extraction, rolling and packing machine

Elephant 1: Experimental training machine for Flying Elephant by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Elephant 1: Experimental training machine for Flying Elephant

Elephant 2: Swimming and blowing your own trumpet, training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Elephant 2: Swimming and blowing your own trumpet, training machine

Echidna: Laughing gas, painless needle replacement machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Echidna: Laughing gas, painless needle replacement machine

Eagle: Flying, Preying and fur gathering training, machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Eagle: Flying, Preying and fur gathering training, machine

Frog: Target practice and dragonfly catching by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Frog: Target practice and dragonfly catching

Greyhound: Running, catching cut-out rabbit training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Greyhound: Running, catching cut-out rabbit training machine

Giraffe: Neck and tongue strengthening training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Giraffe: Neck and tongue strengthening training machine

Gibbon: Arm extension, balancing and strengthening machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Gibbon: Arm extension, balancing and strengthening machine

Hyena: Laughing, k=joking enhancement and tickling machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Hyena: Laughing, k=joking enhancement and tickling machine

Hornbill: Make-up and glamour enhancement and machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Hornbill: Make-up and glamour enhancement and machine

Hummingbird: Speed enhancement whilst wet, training manchine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Hummingbird: Speed enhancement whilst wet, training manchine

Kangaroo: Leg strengthening and hopping training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Kangaroo: Leg strengthening and hopping training machine

Koala: Gum-leaf catching and storage, jumping machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Koala: Gum-leaf catching and storage, jumping machine

Mandrill: Makeover, hair teasing and colour rejuvenation machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Mandrill: Makeover, hair teasing and colour rejuvenation machine

Otter: Sea urchin catching, holding and playing training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Otter: Sea urchin catching, holding and playing training machine

Orangutan: Fruit catching and eating training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Orangutan: Fruit catching and eating training machine

Octopus: Bell-ringing, co-ordination training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Octopus: Bell-ringing, co-ordination training machine

Penguin 1: Jumping really high and catching fish, training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Penguin 1: Jumping really high and catching fish, training machine

Penguin 2: Waddling, muscle strengthening, speed training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Penguin 2: Waddling, muscle strengthening, speed training machine

Panda: Food retrieval and shoulder strengthening training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Panda: Food retrieval and shoulder strengthening training machine

Pig: Flying and weight reduction complete training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Pig: Flying and weight reduction complete training machine

Raven: Flight assisted but restricted prey-catching training by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Raven: Flight assisted but restricted prey-catching training

Rhinoceros: Lumping honing, skill rejuvenation and scrubbing machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Rhinoceros: Lumping honing, skill rejuvenation and scrubbing machine

Snake: Underground obstacle course and mouse-catching training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Snake: Underground obstacle course and mouse-catching training machine

Shark: Restrained, out of water fish-catching training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Shark: Restrained, out of water fish-catching training machine

Seal: Skin polishing, and enhancement, head massage training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Seal: Skin polishing, and enhancement, head massage training machine

Snow Leopard: Fuzzy spot re-touch and rejuvenation machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Snow Leopard: Fuzzy spot re-touch and rejuvenation machine

Thylacine: Protective armour, sign awareness and longevity machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Thylacine: Protective armour, sign awareness and longevity machine

Secretary bird: Feather straightening and strengthening machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Secretary bird: Feather straightening and strengthening machine

Tiger: Strip restoration using stencil and re-touch machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Tiger: Strip restoration using stencil and re-touch machine

Turtle: Shell de-scaling, polishing and buffing machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Turtle: Shell de-scaling, polishing and buffing machine

Zebra: Stripe-widening paint darkening and enhancing machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Zebra: Stripe-widening paint darkening and enhancing machine

Hare: Flying machine for an introduced species to leave by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Hare: Flying machine for an introduced species to leave

Penguin: Flying Machine for a flightless bird by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Penguin: Flying Machine for a flightless bird

Dodo: Flying Machine for an extinct bird by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Dodo: Flying Machine for an extinct bird

Kiwi: Flying machine for a flightless bird by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Kiwi: Flying machine for a flightless bird

Bear: Salmon-catching, arm strengthening training machine by Trevor Weekes

Trevor Weekes

Bear: Salmon-catching, arm strengthening training machine

Trevor Weekes

Mach-in-able: Beneficial machines for ill-fated animals

4 October - 29 October

View exhibition catalogue

When Trevor Weekes requests you write a sonnet,
Just think of all those bees within his bonnet!
I somehow wish my mind were less befuddled
As somehow he unravels what he's muddled.
And so imagination takes a heave
As I enter Trevor's world of make-believe.
Here: a weird, but non-existent bird.
And there: a monkey's stare from the absurd.
His engineered designs are carefully jotted.
With portolans on charts, so neatly plotted,
Described in nonsense language he's invented;
Confused by puns that cannot be prevented.
So not to put too finer point upon it
It's a crazy world in Trevor Weekes' bonnet!
Patrick O'Neill

Childhood trauma - that is unintentional trauma towards animals as a child - became a catalyst for WEEKES' lifelong devotion to creating machines for animals. In his latest series, WEEKES continues to studiously design unique mechanical aids. Harnessing a language of construction and design, the natural anatomies of the animals are interposed with machines and gadgetry in a way that questions both their logic and necessity. WEEKES' pseudo technologies mimic the mechanisms of nature yet have incongruous effects. Lost in the layers intricate draftsmanship and detail, it is easy to overlook the ultimate fault in the design.

There is a playful tension between the aspirations of invention and its ultimate outcome. Whether the machines are harmonious additions to animals, or just devices that complicate their lives unnecessarily, it is up to the viewer. In this role WEEKES plays upon the never-ending interventions by humans upon other species. By imagining a relationship between animals and possible machines created to assist them, just like WEEKES', the works make us wonder how helpful to animals we really are.

TREVOR WEEKES was born in Orange, NSW and currently teaches at the University of Newcastle. In 1999 he was awarded his PhD, Newcastle University and in 1994 he gained his Masters of Fine Art from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales. His work is represented in public collections, including Artbank, College of Fine Arts, Hamilton Regional Gallery, Macquarie University, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, New England Regional Art Museum, National Gallery of Australia, Powerhouse Museum, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, as well as many private collections in the USA, Britain, Spain and Australia. In 2011 Weekes completed a residency at Red Gate Gallery in Beijing.