Lot Essay
The present lot is part of a series of 3 maquettes that Dylan Lewis executed whilst exploring ideas for a life-size buffalo study. As the artist observes, "the buffalo is very characteristic of Africa. It's form is massive, it is reminiscent of the earth itself. They often wallow in mud and almost become the earth in terms of the mud clinging to their coats. They are very powerful and very primitive animals and this charging buffalo is about exploring that power: it's massive force, the forward thrust, the emergence out of the earth as it is connected to the base. In a lot of my works, the base becomes an integral part of the sculpture, and it's about exploring that connection to the earth and exploring the dynamics of the composition. The base can add a great deal of forward thrust, and I'm pleased with how well this works here."