"This is a highly detailed portrayal of an Indian rhino. I wanted to relook the work of Durer, where he has famously sketched on a woodblock a rhino with amazing accuracy. This work looks at a species under pressure to survive as it is persecuted for its horn. Although most of the black and white rhinos are targets, all rhino species are under extreme pressure for their horns.
I wanted to get a sense of this beautiful and massive animal, who is simply choosing to existing in a realm of magic, and even though threatened, is choosing to carry on with their life, creating magic as it interacts with the word. The background represents this magic. As it moves through the air it charges the space with its presence.
If you walk past the image there are flecks of gold within the rhino that reflect light, in the same way, the sliver background also reflects light, this aspect looks at the concept of ancient manuscripts, that all things are deemed sacred. Gold represents the soul of the being, sliver its influence it has in the world.
The lesson, even in dire situations, its choosing to look at the positive, a lesson we can all take to heart.
This work was a finalist in the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation exhibition in 2021.
"

John Moore