Curated for Conservation
In collaboration with Wildlife ACT, this collection of vulture inspired artworks was exhibited at The Walt Disney Family Museum’s first Cause Awareness exhibition, titled: Creative Conservation: The Art of Endangered Animals. “Wildlife ACT is both proud and excited to partner with the Walt Disney Family Museum to bring vultures to life, through art, showcasing this incredible species and the crucial role they play in maintaining the health of our ecosystems,” says Wildlife ACT Managing Director, Mark Gerrard.
Vultures on my mind – mind the vultures! Inspired by Africa’s eleven endemic vultures these artworks celebrate the vulture and the people working to ensure its survival. Working on this collection “Vultures on my mind – mind the vultures!” the concept of “abacus animals” came about when I realised that as soon as a wild animal is numbered, there’s a good chance that its days are also numbered! Conservation organisation WildLife ACT begin their uphill battle to increase the numbers and save the species by documenting each bird with a number, this allows them to track and identify the birds.
Proceeds from the sale of these artworks will be donated to WildLife ACT to support their ongoing vulture conservation work.
Title: “Vultures on my mind” – 2022
Title: “Vultures on my mind” - 2022 (Edition available in Bronze and Ceramic Sculpture)
Artist statement:
Inspired by African Masks in particular the Gelede masks worn by male dancers at Yoruba festivals in Nigeria, in honour of the women in the community, "our mothers”. The masks have a spiritual connotation and represent the “ mothers" extraordinary powers; the ability to transform into birds. The sculpture of a bird over the head of a Gelede mask evokes the transformative powers of the women in the community, encouraging them to use such powers for the progress and benefit of society and the environment. Like the Gelede masks my sculpture encourages people to think about vultures and their important role in the ecosystem and ultimately their survival.
Painting numbers on the head of the mask, I want people to think about the fact that vultures are numbered and those numbers are declining. The line work painted on the bronze creates the movement of an animated vulture as a dancer moves around evoking the power of the people to change the fate of the vultures.
Medium: Bronze painted with enamel oil paintand a ceramic edition, with hand painted glazeDimensions: 52cm (H) x 36cm (L) x 29cm (W) - (20.4 x 14.1 x 11.4 inches)Edition: There are eleven sculptures in this edition each hand painted, inspired by Africa’s eleven vulture species.Each sculpture is signed and numbered.
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Title: Title: “Abacus Animals - Counting Vultures" 2022, (Mixed Media Sculpture)
Artist statement:
The concept of “abacus animals” came about when I realised that as soon as a wild animal is numbered, there’s a good chance that its days are also numbered! Conservation organisation WildLife ACT begin their uphill battle to increase the numbers and save the species by documenting each bird with a number, this allows them to track and identify the birds. I moulded a 3d scan of an actual Bearded Vultures’ egg and created 20 acrylic cast eggs for each abacus. By making the sculpture interactive, the viewer can move the eggs as if counting the remaining vultures using an abacus.
Medium: Wood, acrylic and steel sculptureDimensions: 57,5cm (H) x 89cm (L) x 11cm (W) - (22.6 x 35 x 4.3 inches)Edition: There are eleven sculptures in this edition, inspired by Africa’s eleven vulture species.
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Title: Title: “Red Bird - White Backed Vulture 2022” (Print)
Artist statement:
Referencing the animated drawings of the original Disney animated Jungle Book vultures, the line work on the print creates the movement of an animated drawing.
The Red bird, talks to the endangered status the birds now have.
Medium: Print. Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, archival art paper made from 100% cotton. (This giclée print is a 100% archival, using both archival paper and inks.) Dimensions: sheet size 120 cm x 95 cm (unframed) - (47.2 x 37.4 inches)Edition: This print is numbered and a there is limited edition of 11, signed and titled by the artist and embossed in the front lower margin.
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Title: Title: “Vultures on my mind ” - 2022 (Print)
Artist statement:
Using the Mask and egg sculpture, this print celebrates the local women involved in monitoring, conserving and ultimately ensuring the survival of the vultures in Africa.
Tapping into African folklore where the women have the super powers to use their ability to fly, changing society and the environment for the better.
Medium: Print. Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, archival art paper made from 100% cotton. (This giclée print is a 100% archival, using both archival paper and inks.) Dimensions: Sheet size 132 cm x 110 cm (unframed) Edition: This print is numbered and a there is limited edition of 11, signed and titled by the artist and embossed in the front lower margin.
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Title: Title: “Vultures on my mind ” - 2022 (Print)
Artist statement:
Using the Mask sculpture, this print celebrates the local men involved in monitoring, conserving and ultimately ensuring the survival of the vultures in Africa.
Like the male Gelede dancers of Nigeria, they dance to encourage people to think about their power to change the fate of the vulture.
Medium: Print. Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, archival art paper made from 100% cotton. (This giclée print is a 100% archival, using both archival paper and inks.) Dimensions: Sheet size 110 cm x 134 cm (unframed) Edition: This print is numbered and a there is limited edition of 11, signed and titled by the artist and embossed in the front lower margin.
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Title: Title: “Hatching a plot... ” - 2022 (Edition available in Bronze and Ceramic Sculpture)
Artist statement:
Referencing the animated drawings of the original Disney animated Jungle Book vultures, the line work on the print creates the movement of an animated drawing.
For Africans yellow symbolises eternal optimism and cyclical rebirth. The sculpture captures the continued optimism and dedication of Conservation organisations like WildLife ACT to ensure the survival of this key species.
Medium: Bronze sculpture painted with enamel oil paintand a ceramic edition with hand painted glazeDimensions: 9cm (H) x 7.5cm (diameter) - (9 x 7.5 inches)Edition: unlimitedEach sculpture is signed and numbered.
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