After more than 180 hours of work with pencil and charcoal on white paper, the artwork “SYNCERUS CAFFER” was created as the first of five drawings in a series called “The Big Five”. “Big Five” is a term that is used to refer to the five African animals early big game hunters considered most difficult and dangerous to hunt on foot in Africa. Trophy hunters considered it a feat to bring one of these animals home. The big five include the Cape buffalo, the African elephant, the rhinoceros, the lion and the leopard.
This series intends to breathe fresh life into the animals that have already fallen victim to so many hunters. Thanks to the pictures, these majestic animals can decorate a home without losing their lives.
Besides the buffalo, 15 other creatures are hiding in the picture and can be discovered by the recipient on closer inspection. They all belong to the same habitat and therefore integrate well into the picture not only visually but also in terms of content. The challenge to find all the hidden things creates a longer attention span of the observer for the image and entices interpersonal exchange. The picture should lead to situations where people look at it together, investigate for hidden secrets and enjoy discovering new things again and again.
