Picture of the Exhibit at AMNH Sambar and Wild Dogs
The exhibit I chose has a three horned Indian Sambar, standing on a rock trying to defend himself of a pack of Wild Dogs. The scene is placed in a forested area somewhere in Southern Asia.
Things I know about the exhibit:
- Sambar courtesy of Nawab Sultan Jahan
- Sambar are very abundant, and are a primary source of food for the Wild Dogs.
- Wild Dogs hunt in big packs, can be as many as 40, but more often they hunt in packs of 6 to 12.
- Wild Dogs usually hunt in the day, and they prefer forested areas.
- The Wild Dogs are most likely to be found from the Siberia south, Tibet, the Himalayas, Burma, India, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra to Java.
- Wild Dogs don’t live in Sri Lanka
- None of these animals are in danger.
- Sambar use there antlers for defense, which give a very effective result.
5 Questions:
- What will happen next?
- Will the Sambar at least be able to put up a fight?
- Why did they choose to portray only one Sambar?
- Will the Sambar die or only injured ?
- Why would you kill animals to show them in a museum?
Ideation Sketches/ Developing Sketches
Sketches of Avatar
Rough Draft
Photoshop process
Statement:
What I intended to portray in my image is the nostalgic feeling of wanting to help two innocent creatures: a child and a deer. I think it’s a powerful image because even though it looks like both of them won’t survive, the deer is still trying to protect the child. It’s that state of vulnerability and compassion in which it makes the viewer think of what they would do in that situation.
Although Sambar’s have very powerful anchors, the image clearly depicts who is in favor.
Integrating the child to the scene makes it more powerful and sad, because it’s now not only an animal in danger but also a human being.
It also touches the maternal side, the protective mother. Even though the deer (maternal figure) is injured and weak, she is still fighting back to keep the child safe.
Before modifying the image, the scene was still sad, but made you think what would happen next, if the deer would be able to defend itself or would it die.
