Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Dachshund dogs sit in their positions for the performance installation "Dachshund UN", where dachshund dogs were used to mimic a United Nations Commission on Human Rights meeting in Toronto on Thursday, February 28, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michelle Siu

The world's leaders spent an hour barking, sniffing one another, and chasing their own tails in what was far from a normal United Nations meeting.

Dachshund UN, a miniature version of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights where the world's leaders are replaced by dogs, made its North American debut in Toronto on Thursday night.

Harbourfront Centre's Enwave theatre was host to 36 dachshunds that filled in for United Nations representatives from France, Germany, the United States and other nations.

"It's a powerful, profound piece of work but it's kooky on the surface," said Tina Rasmussen, artistic director of Harbourfront Centre's World Stage 2013 performances.

Rasmussen said that the audience plays an important part in the performance as well because they gauge what the dogs' actions along with what the nation that they are representing signifies.

"The audience reaction is nearly as powerful."

"What does it mean when China is asleep or when Chile is aggressive," asked Rasmussen.

Australian artist Bennett Miller created the show to question humanity's potential for creating a universal justice system.

Miller, who had already showcased the installation in the United Kingdom, says many of his works use animals to stand in for humans.

"It gets the audience to consider human behaviour differently," said Miller.