ENDANGERED: Fine Art & Photography Contest 2018 Submission.

This work celebrates the chimpanzee. Born in '94 at a research lab in New York, Rodney was separated from his mother at birth raised by man. Such separation is extremely difficult and the effects made it hard for Rodney to interact with his companions. When the research facility was closed, Rodney became a resident at the Primate Rescue Center in Kentucky. There he spends his days relaxing with a new set of companions. However, Rodney is a bit mischievous which often leads to fights with the other chimps. Regardless, his life at the sanctuary is a huge improvement for Rodney. I've portrayed Rodney in a serious mood. His plight, and that of many other primates, is no joking matter. As our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, what they lack most is the gift of speech. Dr. Jane Goodall stated, "Someone must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves." I want this piece to be a voice for Rodney by depicting a somber concerned image of one who is only 1 chromosome away from us.

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