Nuweiba

Nuweiba, a sculpture named for the town on the Sinai Peninsula, is a piece that explores the profound dichotomies of life and the human-animal bond. This work centers on a very large, single-humped camel, captured in a moment of utter regality, its head held high and proud. Perched upon its immense form is a small boy, his head bowed, a figure of humility and shyness.
I first saw this pair leading a caravan along the Red Sea coast. The sheer scale of the camel was mesmerizing, a powerful and noble beast, yet it was being guided by this small, quiet boy. This striking contrast—the humble leader and the powerful follower—was a duality I knew I had to capture in bronze. This piece, like the people of the Bedouin tribes who inhabit the region, is full of intricate cultural subsets and surprising contrasts.
Sculpting "Nuweiba" was a lesson in meticulous detail, especially in learning the camel's anatomy. The final work is full of abstract introducing a rich energy, and an unspoken language between the boy and his camel. "Nuweiba" is a celebration of the quiet strength found in unexpected places, a reminder that the world is a smaller place when we can see the deep, personal connections that exist all around us.