Free like animals: elephant Print

Free like animals: elephant These pieces are an expressive representation of the wildlife in South Africa who are free to roam around but not quite because they have enough space to live and be comfortable however they are still enclosed as they need to be protected from humans who poach. This series highlights my (and my daughter’s) love for animals but more importantly how animals are said to be free yet they’re still actually living in enclosed spaces. Some safaris just give the impression of freedom because these animals have more space than the ones in zoos. This ‘freedom’ idea is quite ironic and relatable because something similar could be implied about us as humans and our freedom. I guess freedom is relative. Politicians exploit this idea all the time and we go with it because it is the norm now. We supposedly must be grateful and accept mediocre services just because something is better than the worst possible scenario. But should we? I love using my art as a starting point to a conversation. So are we really free? This is the first piece from this series. This work is referenced from a photograph I took at the Aquila Game reserve in Western Cape, South Africa. Colourful, expressive art speaks to my soul and this painting is one of many in which I try to 'perfect' my style. My colour choice brings a taste of home to the world and the balance or sometimes imbalance represents my state of mind at the time of completing the artwork.