My number one is “Hyena” a work part of Craig Muller’s solo exhibition titled “Speaking Art Not English”. Craig is one of my all-time favourite artists and I have followed his career closely since his first exhibition in 2008. I’ve watched Craig'sstyle develop from the fun, amusing sketches into deeply relevant works with fascinating concepts that draw viewers into discussion (is this not the ultimate goal of art, to draw out discussion).
I have a few of Craigs works in my collection and I never get tired of looking at them, there is always some new little detail to discover or meaning to attach to it. This particular work may not be the one from this exhibition thatfirst catches my eye, but the more I look at it, the more it captivates my attention.
This Hyena emerging from the blackness with it’s typical hyena stance seeming at first menacing, but then you notice the eyes. The eyes watching you as you stare at him, the eyes of an intelligent, inquisitive creature. As we stare at each other, the harsh blackness he emerges from softens; the dark eyes soften, and you realize you’re staring at an old friend.
