About the piece:
Joseph Paxton’s work broadly explores what it is to be a living being – struggle, endeavour, behaviours, emotions, and states of being. Both animal and human form are used to express the physical and psychological juxtapositions of strength, vulnerability, simplicity and complexity. The connection between living beings and the environment, (both built and natural) and the exploration of the human animal, are common themes in his work. Over millennia much symbolism and meaning has been placed upon animals both wild and tamed. Birds of prey and hawks in particular are seen as messengers from the gods, guardians of nature and symbols of vigilance and clarity. Hafoc is an Old English, West Saxon word for hawk. I created the piece over the past year, a period of time during which our notions of freedom have been tested and life choices put under scrutiny. The hawk is aware and alert to something in its eye-line, looking to its next move, to its immediate future. It remains in a state of powerful readiness and calm, focussed only on the task ahead.

At least 50% of the proceeds from this sale will support the charitable work of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and our ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia.