Horror on Elk Street

I was in a pine forest in Northern Arizona when came across the bones of an elk. It is an area where elk hunting is popular, so I assumed it was what was left behind by hunters after they took the meat. Some of the vertebrae were in good shape so I took a few for my art work.

Looking at the sun bleached and sand blasted state of the bones, it is very possible that these have been on the forest ground for a few years. Still, some had petrifaction resembling coral and surprisingly well kept!

I had no idea what these forgotten bones can become. But I wanted to give them a second life and new identity. So after playing with them to find a configuration, I decided on the following:

Frontal view:

Profile:

Of course it was shaping like a phantasmagoric head upon a long neck. So off to work I went.

After a few hours this horror creature had squirrel arms, red eyes, a moustache and teeth. Yet, and for some strange reason, I wanted to make a mountain-man’s fur hat for it… So, there is a rabbit fur and tail to cover its head!

I wanted to keep it simple, with no paintings on the bones since I thought the bones had good texture and colour to hold their own.

So, it was time to take a profile photo. And that is when this horror creature came to life!!!! When I shined light on it for a photo, the shadow on the wall appeared unannounced. Yet it was fantastic as the hat, the nose, the lips and the hands seemed worthy of a horror movie. And to my added surprise, the fur tuff on the hat formed perfect horns on the shadow!

This is what an artist fears yet welcomes – the unexpected after all that planning. But in this case, it really gives this work a unique character.

So, here is a photo of the shadow in focus – this work will always be displayed with light shining on its profile.

© Vahé A. Kazandjian

November 5, 2017