Karl Haendel b. 1976
Tiger with Ring, 2021
Pencil and ink on paper
168.91 x 130.81 cm
66 1/2 x 51 1/2 ins
In a recent series of drawings, Haendel juxtaposed photorealistic graphite renderings of lions, cheetahs and tigers with inked cartoon illustrations of pop accessories, such as Rolex watches, Nike sneakers, or...
In a recent series of drawings, Haendel juxtaposed photorealistic graphite renderings of lions, cheetahs and tigers with inked cartoon illustrations of pop accessories, such as Rolex watches, Nike sneakers, or Dr. Martens boots. In doing so, the artist engages us in a philosophical dilemma; that as humans we can never "know" or “understand” wild animals, yet we cannot not project our own human motivations and characteristics onto them. Set within the historical context of hunting and displaying wild animals as trophies, and echoed today in its modern incarnation–the discovering and collecting of art at art fairs–ideas of nature, power and ownership are here reimagined for the 21st century.