This is really an extraordinary piece of work, using textures and materials quite unlike any of the other gorillas I have seen so far. It is situated in the foyer of Costco, on the outskirts of Bristol and it is really hard to get decent pictures of it, which is a shame.
Costco is not somewhere I am permitted to shop, as it is a members only shopping facility. I observed people coming out bearing huge cakes and loads of toilet rolls. I am obviously missing out, (not).
Anyway the gorilla is covered in part in what looks like moss and has elaborate wooden sections which are carved and the whole effect is quite wonderful.
The notes on the plaque say that it was
…inspired by stories of The Old Man of the Forest and the Green Man, this sculpture is half plant half animal, powerful but vulnerable with an ancient wisdom….
Artist Chris Wood
He is lovely. I wonder if he’s grown that moss the way that those ‘Chia Pets’ did many, many, many, many years ago. I think that’s what they were called — now I’ll have to Google it and see if I have that right. :D Yes, here they are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_Pet
Hi Misk, thanks for commenting :) That would have been a wonderful idea, but it wasn’t alive, I touched it. They look really wacky those chia pets. I had a soap rabbit that grew ‘fur’ when it was wet, very spooky and not very nice soap….
I have bread that’s growing furry stuff, too. Perhaps I should glue it to a plinth and see if people gather around it in admiration. :D
Oh this one is definitely my favourite so far. Amazing detailing!