In Heteroperspective 1, Ngaio Macfarlane makes detailed studies of wildlife creatures taken out of their natural environment and presented mostly against a plain blue ground. This device pointedly reminds us that the creatures' environment is critical to their survival.

Alone and unsupported on the canvas, with the deep blue of infinity beyond, the creatures display a commanding and challenging presence which not only creates a deeply striking image but at the same time, forcefully reminds us that they have as much a right to exist as we do ourselves.

Tiger, 1995 is a study of a Bengal tiger. The year before this image was painted, conservationists were in fear of the worst for the world's wild tiger populations. Three of eight tiger subspecies had already gone extinct. Rampant poaching and habitat destruction appeared poised to consume the rest. Conservation programmes have only been able to slow the decline.

India has nearly two thirds of the world's remaining tigers. Project Tiger was formed in 1972 with the aim of ensuring the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values. Since the inception of Project Tiger, the population of India has increased by 300 million people and livestock numbers by 100 million animals --- but the number of tigers continues to decline.

Currently, there are between 5,000 to 7,500 tigers in the wild, according to estimates by the World Conservation Union. This figure represents a fraction of the 100,000 tigers found in the wild at the beginning of the 20th century, according to the Save the Tiger Fund.

This means that over the last 100 years, humankind has managed to kill off 95% of the world's population of tigers and the remainder are under extreme threat of total extinction. Now, won't that be something to tell the grandchildren?

Welcome to Heteroperspective 1, our fifth online exhibition. We hope you find it of interest.