King Penguin Itch - 2011

Bronze, Signed Hamish Mackie, Numbered edition of 25, Dated 2011
5,300 Inc. VAT
24cm high x 17cm deep x 25cm wide / 9.5" high x 6.5" deep x 10" wide
Sculptures can be shipped world wide at cost, no VAT payable on exports outside the EU.

The King Penguin lives in large colonies in the region of North Antartica, including the Falkland Islands. Its main diet is mostly small fish and squid, which means penguins spend a lot of time repeatedly diving to great depths in the Southern Ocean to find food. Out of the water, however, they are less agile and walk with an endearingly comic side-to-side gait.

Hamish was lucky enough to observe them in the harsh environment of Antartica, when he joined a polar expedition to the region in 2011. His bronze King Penguin sculpture places the bird on land, lowering his head to scratch an itch with his foot. Hamish has captured the slightly awkward stance of the penguin in this charming limited edition piece.

Click on the main image to zoom into the picture.

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THIS SCULPTURE IN THE MAKING

Hamish watches two Penguins
Hamish with portable studio in Antartica
Hamish sculpting penguin
King penguin in Antartica
Penguin colony in Antarctica

King Penguin 2011 was sculpted in Antarctica on my trip with the polar experts ‘Ice Tracks’, using my portable studio box and plasticine. I had made an armature before the trip and attached it, with others to the lid of the box, so it hung upside down in transit. Nothing beats working in the field and getting up so close to the subject, an unforgettable experience!