Victor Penny was a New Zealand inventor from the 1930s notoriously known for the mysterious 'death ray'. Right after a lab incident that sent him straight to the hospital, Victor suddenly disappeared. It was later discovered that he'd been moved to Wellington's Matiu-Somes Island, where he worked on a top-secret government weapon to take down planes with deadly invisible waves allegedly.
Despite being a media sensation, Penny's pride took a turn for the worse when the Prime Minister publicly humiliated his work causing him to to cease his profession.
The illustration focuses on his 'mad scientist' persona, a sci-fi archetype that exaggerates his pride into a larger-than-life image of himself. His "death rays" are seen shooting straight from his hands, making it appear like he has sourced his own deadly power.
The truth is not what it seems, however. Upon closer inspection, the flashes on his goggles are actually cracks from the infamous incident. His lab coat is a farmer flannel shirt, his trousers are cargo shorts and his footwear is a pair of jandals; all of which are nods to the archetype of a Kiwi bloke. While we may never know the value of Penny's death ray project, the image the former Prime Minister painted of Victor was nothing short of incompetence.
Despite the harsh criticisms and career downfalls, Victor Penny was an ambitious, brilliant man who was unafraid to take risks and go outside the box. His story is one of many vibrant histories of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Despite being a media sensation, Penny's pride took a turn for the worse when the Prime Minister publicly humiliated his work causing him to to cease his profession.
The illustration focuses on his 'mad scientist' persona, a sci-fi archetype that exaggerates his pride into a larger-than-life image of himself. His "death rays" are seen shooting straight from his hands, making it appear like he has sourced his own deadly power.
The truth is not what it seems, however. Upon closer inspection, the flashes on his goggles are actually cracks from the infamous incident. His lab coat is a farmer flannel shirt, his trousers are cargo shorts and his footwear is a pair of jandals; all of which are nods to the archetype of a Kiwi bloke. While we may never know the value of Penny's death ray project, the image the former Prime Minister painted of Victor was nothing short of incompetence.
Despite the harsh criticisms and career downfalls, Victor Penny was an ambitious, brilliant man who was unafraid to take risks and go outside the box. His story is one of many vibrant histories of Aotearoa New Zealand.
