In the September All-Media exhibit, on view now through October 1, the juror awarded second prize to Sir Hog, a captivating sculpture of a warthog by Trinka Roekelein.

Trinka’s work also won a prize in last month’s “The Shape of Things” sculpture exhibit, when her Giraffe Boy was selected for the Monkith Saaid Sculpture Award. You can read more about Giraffe Boy, the series Safari in Clay that it and Sir Hog are part of, and her work in general in the interview from last month. This time around, we asked Trinka to tell us more about Sir Hog.

What materials, treatments, etc., went into Sir Hog?
Trinka: I used a low fire clay body with oxides and underglazes, fired mulitiple times to cone 05, to achieve the desired surface.

Is it part of the Safari in Clay series?
Sir Hog stems from the Safari in Clay series. My work is evolving to focus on the increasingly complex dualities of modern existence. I am concentrating on the co-existence between nature and people and creating pieces that reflect the fantasy that arises by combining these parallel subjects through form, gesture and character. As the world continues to get smaller, this interaction is becoming more pronounced, compressed and automatic on both sides.

What inspired the warthog’s attitude or pose?
The similarities and differences between people and wild animals. I created a more fantasy driven warthog with human qualities, such as gesture and emotion.

What would you like the viewer of Sir Hog to come away with?
That is an interesting question. I wouldn’t mind if it caused the viewer to think about the dualities that are cropping up in so many areas of our daily lives.