'Tigris Panthera' (2013) - Wire
I was inspired to make Tigris Panthera after discovering just how endangered this wonderful species is. I wanted a piece that showed their vulnerability and yet their spirit. Tigris Panthera is reacting to man encroaching on his environment. Most of the focus is on Tigris' head. There are more layers of wire here and the further along the body we look, the less layers of wire there are. (not apparent by photo) This represents the species fading away before our very eyes.
Wire is a truly sympathetic material for this piece as it creates a vulnerability in the sculpture that would have been lost were it made in another medium. It has been said by many onlookers that because of the way the wire is worked, he has a ghost like appearance.
Working on the underside of Tigris Panthera
A close up of Tigris Pantera's head. The open mouth was a challenge but an exciting one. I put ridges on the roof of his mouth (as a cat would normally have) a detail much appreciated by a lady that visited one of my exhibitions, she was blind. She enjoyed feeling Tigris very much. I try where possible to leave no sharpe edges. In Tigris' case - this meant thousands of sharpe ends to be tied in.
Transporting by car. This attracted much attention. Tigris was wired securely to the frame.
Tigris' new home. He also has a new name - "Panthera". There will be an unvailing in the spring, so watch this space.
