Brian Hollingworth and Primates
Making a Sculpture of a Silverback Gorilla
| Brian Hollingworth really loves the
wonderful world of primates. He has spent many days drawing gorillas and
orang-utans at zoos all over the world. At his local zoo Twycross, he
spent so much time sketching that he and 'Joe' , the huge
silverback developed a very special relationship. Joe often hid himself
from the public in his nest at the back of his enclosure when he got fed
up with the noise and fuss of the many children who came to see him. However whenever Brian slipped into the back of the viewing area Joe would climb down and come right up to the window, rest his elbows on the inner ledge and almost pose for his picture to be drawn. If Brian moved away to look at the other gorillas Joe would register his disapproval by knocking on the glass until Brian came back. |
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This interest culminated in a
wonderful commission to make a life size figure of a silverback to be
cast in bronze resin to go into a clients garden.
Joe was the basis and Brian tried to emphasis the massive presence and wonderful stillness and calm of this magnificent creature. The clay figure was moulded and then a cast made. The sculpture now sits in a secluded place in the client's garden. The mould was so good that up to 12 copies of this magnificent sculpture could be made. |
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Work in progress on the sculpture of a gorilla |
 Side view of the gorilla sculpture |
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The finished sculpture of a gorilla |
Gorilla sculpture |
