Razak and Auntie
Razak and Auntie is comprised of steel and sculpted, pigmented concrete. It is 64” wide and 65” high and weights in at 1174 pounds!
Razak and Auntie depicts two orangutans that live in Cameron Park Zoo; Razak, who was born in January 2017, and Kutai, his “auntie”. Just after Razak was born, his mother, Mei, began to display irregular, threatening behavior, and the decision was made to remove Razak from her care for his protection. Zoo staff decided to take over most of the infant’s daily care in hopes Mei could eventually raise him on her own. During this time, Razak was introduced to Kutai, so that she could provide surrogate care and all-important species bonding for him. Later, Mei recovered from what turned out to be a form of post-partum depression. She and Razak were reintroduced and they now have a strong mother-child relationship. This story, like so many from the animal world, gives us an insight into how much we have in common. Human families suffer trauma and mental illness, too. Having the right kind of loving support in life can come in many different forms.
Did You Know?
- Orangutan means person of the forest.
- They share about 97% of DNA with humans.
- They are critically endangered.
- They spend most of their time in trees.
About the artist
Artists Solomon Bassoff and Domenica Mottarella work together in sculpted, pigmented concrete which they sculpt by hand like clay. They then add steel, tile mosaic, glass and other materials to create unique and whimsical animal characters that are designed to invite exploration and curiosity. They like to convey animals’ emotional characteristics to create a connection between the human and animal world with their unique blend of naturalism and realism. Together, Bassoff and Mottarella run Faducci Studio, located in the foothills of the California Sierra Nevada. They have created much-loved public artworks In California, Washington, Oklahoma, and Texas. Keep a look out for them, as they are very recognizable. These artworks always look like they are about to tell you a story.
More sculptures
Explore more animal sculptures along the river trail. Each piece brings a different story, artist, and perspective to the Waco Sculpture Zoo.
