Protection - Boekenhoutskloof's Giant Porcupine









Simon Max Bannister
"Protection"
2011
Wood, steel and fire
Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek

 




This work was commissioned by Marc Kent of the highly acclaimed Boekenhoutskloof Wine Estate. One of their fine wines, goes under the name of Porcupine Ridge thus the opportunity to create a sculptural representation came to be.



The creation process took 6 days, with the much of the time taken with preparing the quills. This involved tapering the tips into sharp points and with machettes and then sanding them smooth. The black colouring was done with fire.


The location is a wonderful setting against the Hottentots Holland Reserve mountain ridge, a truly enchanted setting in the quiet valley.

The title "Protection" has three levels, the first being the function of the quills, which are extremely effective at discouraging predators. The second relates to the use of fire as a form of colouring and the primal function that fire has, serving as protection against wild animals and giving light to the dark. The third, serves as an acknowledgment of the research programme that Boekenhoutskloof is doing on porcupines habitats and well being in the local area.













Popular Posts