Sculptor Kendra in “The Big Wolf”, confronting the protection and the savages – Huge
Kendra Haste brings us face to face with amazing wildlife sculptures from a simple material. The British artist is fascinated by the “essence and character” of every creature by using galvanized wires to create life-sized portraits of everything from calming large images to warning deer to a herd of boars.
The artist’s solo exhibition, Big Bad Wolf At the Iron Art Foundry Museum Büdelsdorf, Germany’s first, and continues to explore recent works of wildlife that bridge the world of animals and ours. “I try to capture the living, breathing models in static 3D form and convey their emotional nature without falling into sensual or anthropomorphic situations,” Haste said.
If you have visited the Tower of London in the past fifteen years, you may also have seen sculptures that Haste permanently displayed, inspired by Royal Menagerie, the city’s first zoo. The building was filled with animals between the 1200s and 1835, many of which were donated to the Kings and Queens.
Haste’s life-sized animals were installed near where they were preserved and paid tribute to the real residents, just like the large image sent by the French king in 1255, presumably a polar bear was shipped from Norway at the same time. The works were originally conducted in a 10-year exhibition, but are now viewed permanently in the beloved historical sites.
exist Big wolf, Haste’s first solo museum exhibition delves into conservation, sustainability and controversial revival concepts. Animals that wander in the museum, including wolves, stags, backs, white-tailed eagles, bobcats and wild boars, are native to northern Germany. Although some are threatened, others bounce back and quickly attack into regional yet universal understanding of our subtle relationship with nature and how our behavior affects it.
“It’s about how we look at the natural world – how we try to shape it, and what it means to make it return,” Haste said. “Like cast iron, wires maintain tension between strength and vulnerability. This balance runs through every piece in this exhibition.”
Big Bad Wolf Continue until November 2 in Büdelsdorf. See more of Haste’s work on Instagram.
