A rhino stable at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park has become a temporary studio for this year’s Artist in Residence, Amanda Hughes.

Amanda has recently graduated from the University of Kent and specialises in sculpture using welded steel and other materials. For her residency at the wild animal park she is constructing a life size rhinoceros from steel and locally sourced hazel.

Amanda said ‘I was so pleased when Port Lympne asked me to be this year’s Artist in Residence and as soon as I saw the area that I could work in I knew that a rhino sculpture would be perfect. I have based my sculpture on Rukwa - the oldest black rhino at the park. I felt that welded steel, manipulated by hand and locally sourced fauna from the parks own plantation would be the perfect metaphor to illustrate the strength and fragility of critically endangered black rhino.’

Amanda with the rhino sculpture

Port Lympne near Ashford is home to 17 black rhino which are critically endangered in the wild. Figures report that there are less than 3000 due to encroachment by man on their territory and poaching. Rhino horn is extremely valuable in certain countries and fetches large sums of money.

Visitors to Port Lympne can watch Amanda Hughes working on her sculpture and in October the finished piece and other works will be on show at the park over the half term week. For more information about Port Lympne Wild Animal Park including opening times and its conservation work please visit www.aspinallfoundation.org [4]

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©