shrewdness of the apes: fading echoes
mr grumpy
There’s something about a gorilla’s stare that stops you in your tracks—especially when it’s served with a heavy dose of attitude. Mr. Grumpy is a close-up graphite portrait rendered on Arches 300gsm hot-pressed paper, allowing for deep blacks, fine detail, and a velvety finish. The high-contrast composition focuses in on a furrowed brow and an unamused gaze, capturing not just the texture of his features but the weight of emotion behind them. He might look like he’s had enough of your nonsense—but look closer, and you’ll find a spark of intelligence and quiet reflection that says more than words ever could.
Funnily enough, Mr. Grumpy is also a nickname I’ve earned over the years—so this piece feels a little personal, too.
sage's quest
There’s something timeless about a gorilla lost in thought. Sage’s Quest?! captures a side profile caught mid-reflection, rendered in graphite with a strong interplay of light and shadow. His thoughtful expression, softened by delicate transitions in tone, creates an intimate moment of stillness—one that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
This piece isn’t just about likeness—it’s about presence. He feels like an old soul, carrying stories and wisdom we’ll never quite grasp. And maybe that’s the beauty of it: the invitation to pause, to reflect, and to connect with something ancient, quiet, and profoundly human.
world on fire
World on Fire captures a moment of haunting stillness—an orangutan baby, eyes wide with dismay, gazes upward as if searching for answers in a world unraveling. The abstract, burn-textured background hints at the destruction of its home, contrasting sharply with the fine, delicate rendering of its hair and expressive face. There’s a deep ache in this piece—a mix of innocence and helplessness—that speaks louder than words.
Part of the Shrewdness of Apes: Fading Echoes collection, this graphite drawing delivers more than realism—it delivers a message. It’s a quiet, powerful protest against deforestation and the irreversible loss it brings. Framed in black with a crisp white matte, this A3 piece doesn’t just ask for attention—it demands empathy.
we hear you, we see you, but we don’t speak to evil
A powerful reinterpretation of an age-old idea, We Hear You, We See You, But We Don’t Speak to Evil flips the traditional “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil” concept on its head. These three chimpanzees don’t hide from the world’s darkness—they confront it. Their intense expressions and direct gazes call out to the viewer, demanding not silence, but awareness. They see. They hear. But they refuse to give cruelty and corruption their voice.
Drawn in graphite with exceptional attention to detail, every wrinkle, hair, and shadow adds to their striking realism. The high contrast enhances their presence, giving this large-format work (760 x 560mm) a bold, unflinching energy. Framed in black with a white matte, this piece is part of the Shrewdness of Apes: Fading Echoes series—a collection that speaks, loudly and clearly, without ever needing to shout.
