Pop Dogs is a mobile installation from critically acclaimed artist Carlo Sampietro. The project takes the traditional popcorn machine and replaces its edible content with plastic toy dogs. The machine spills replicas of man's best friend onto the museum floor as an expression of dog overpopulation in crowded urban landscapes worldwide.

Sampietro was inspired by the abandoned dogs he saw during his travels around the world. What he saw starkly contrasted the dog culture of New York City. While in Brazil he noticed an abundance of street dogs. In New York, however, he observed dogs being pampered like children. The popcorn metaphor is a vehicle to express the contradiction that what we crave can become undesirable. And that appetite and craving are emotional needs subject to whims. Popcorn can become appealing after we smell the butter or hear it popping. Similarly, the very sight of an adorable dog can invoke an emotional need to have one even if we lack the space or access to a park. The dogs spilled on the floor like popcorn, in comparison to those tucked in boxes beside the machine, becomes a reminder of what happens when reality sets in and real life dogs are left dirty, deserted and forgotten.

Much like a popcorn machine left unattended--more dogs are bred daily throughout the world then can be properly cared for. United States has the largest pet dog population of approximately sixty million dogs, followed by Brazil and China. Some of the fastest growing economies are taking action based on their numbers of domestic and abandoned dogs. Most recently Shanghai, China established a law that each family is allowed only one dog.

The exhibition will move to four locations where dog overpopulation has caused unique challenges: Paris, Shanghai, Rio and New York, . The installation will reveal how the same problem can cause four specific dilemmas in these respective places.

Pop Dogs offers a fresh perspective on a contemporary social problem. His larger than life popcorn machine overflowing with plastic dog figurines brings to light a growing global concern and explores the overarching theme of the artist's work, what belongs to the street and what belongs in the house.