There is the Flemish giant, and then there is Intrude: an army of white nylon rabbits by Australian artist Amanda Parer, invading one US city at a time. Intrude’s first leg is Brookfield Place in lower Manhattan, the home of Time Inc’s office (we’re excited to be on the front lines.)
There will be seven rabbits on the Arts Brookfield-run tour– five which have already toured globally, and two new commissions. They’ll be in NYC 17th April– 30th April before hopping to Houston, Los Angeles and Denver.
‘They're large because I wanted to make them look like they were just making themselves at home,’ says Parer. Each colossus is in a unique pose– the two new XL commissions are 40x30 feet and 50x15 feet respectively.
Internal illumination lends the rabbits their nightlight glow. And while memories of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Margery Williams’ loved-to-life velveteen rabbit lend the work its innocence, there is also a stern ecological message at play. On Parer’s continent, rabbits are literally an intruder– pests which Australia has combated since they were introduced by 18th century European settlers.
‘People can put up a wall right away when you bring up these things,’ says Parer, of environmental commentary. Even with fluffy critters as an inroad, her message still hits close to home: ‘They're a metaphor for us.’
Parer's process begins with a composition that includes all of the rabbits working in concert. She then creates clay figures that are 3D scanned and sent to a team of artisans to be brought to life at true scale. Intrude is an installation of light, space and personality. It's no wonder Parer looks to Olafur Eliasson, Jeff Koons and Anish Kapoor for inspiration.
Parer has another inflatable installation ongoing called Fantastic Planet inspired by the 1973 film of the same name. She will also exhibit at the inaugural Doha Festival in Qatar.
When asked if she has a favourite intruder, Parer– a mother– balks. ‘It's a little like asking which is my favourite child... they are a family.’
There will be seven rabbits on the Arts Brookfield-run tour– five which have already toured globally, and two new commissions Photography: Courtesy of The Knot Group.
Although the rabbits are sure to delight with their cuteness, there is also a stern ecological message at play: on Parer’s continent, rabbits are literally an intruder– pests which Australia has combated since they were introduced by 18th century European settlers Photography: Courtesy of The Knot Group.
INFORMATION
Intrude will be in New York from 17th April– 30th April. For more information see Arts Brookfield's website.
ADDRESS
Brookfield Place New York
230 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10821
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 showsThe Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to knowDesigning the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spotHeritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Ai Weiwei’s new public installation is coming soon to Four Freedoms State Park‘Camouflage’ by Ai Weiwei will launch the inaugural Art X Freedom project in September 2025, a new programme to investigate social justice and freedom
-
Leonard Baby's paintings reflect on his fundamentalist upbringing, a decade after he left the churchThe American artist considers depression and the suppressed queerness of his childhood in a series of intensely personal paintings, on show at Half Gallery, New York
-
Desert X 2025 review: a new American dream grows in the Coachella ValleyWill Jennings reports from the epic California art festival. Here are the highlights
-
This rainbow-coloured flower show was inspired by Luis Barragán's architectureModernism shows off its flowery side at the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show.
-
‘Psychedelic art palace’ Meow Wolf is coming to New YorkThe ultimate immersive exhibition, which combines art and theatre in its surreal shows, is opening a seventh outpost in The Seaport neighbourhood
-
Wim Wenders’ photographs of moody Americana capture the themes in the director’s iconic films'Driving without a destination is my greatest passion,' says Wenders. whose new exhibition has opened in New York’s Howard Greenberg Gallery
-
20 years on, ‘The Gates’ makes a digital return to Central ParkThe 2005 installation ‘The Gates’ by Christo and Jeanne-Claude marks its 20th anniversary with a digital comeback, relived through the lens of your phone
-
In ‘The Last Showgirl’, nostalgia is a drug like any otherGia Coppola takes us to Las Vegas after the party has ended in new film starring Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl
