“A life-sized stainless steel sculpture of a European Water Rail. Features the bird's signature large feet and a mix of layered and welded textures.”
The Water Rail is a shy, skulking inhabitant of dense reed beds, often heard squealing like a piglet but rarely seen. This life-sized sculpture brings the secretive bird out of the shadows, highlighting the unique adaptations that allow it to thrive in its wetland habitat.
Crafted from stainless steel, the piece is defined by its exaggerated, splayed feet—anatomically accurate to the species, acting like snowshoes to distribute weight across soft mud and lily pads. I utilised two distinct techniques to capture the bird's plumage: the wings are formed from layered, smooth plates to suggest flight feathers, while the body features a heavy, welded bead texture. This "bubbly" surface mimics the soft, dense down that keeps the rail dry and warm in the damp undergrowth. With its head low and long bill extended, the sculpture captures the bird in its perpetual state of stealthy foraging.
