Family
Resting under the shade of trees in the African savannah, this pack of Cape wild dogs take a cool respite from the hot sun as their forms shimmer under the reflections of bright sun and dark leaf shadows. “The Family” represents the cohesive unit of wild African dogs, who need to hunt in packs in order to overwhelm larger animals that make up it’s diet and for protection against larger predators. Ever vigilant in their poses and stance, the team atmosphere of cooperation and sharing is evident after the kill, where adult dogs will regurgitate food for any of the sick, wounded or young pack members. The artwork is structured in a classic pyramidal design structure, with the resting dogs on the ground acting as the base while the standing wild dog whose coat casts a unique spotted pattern, leads the viewer upward towards the top of the artwork, represented by the grassland tree behind their canine forms. This warm representation of a family of African Cape wild dogs is a reminder of their natural state of existence and beauty which is currently being threatened by a changing world, and has put their name on the endangered species list.