bulls, oxen, water buffalo, and other bovine animals have occupied an important position in cultural-religious traditions across time and space. the humped zebu bull, native to south asia, was carved into stone seals found at indus valley sites harappa and mohenjo-daro. in predynastic egypt five thousand years ago, someone ground malachite for cosmetics on a palette depicting a bovine-deity. i was born in the year of the ox (1997) which is connected to the earthly element in chinese cosmology. there was a ritual in early medieval ireland called the tarbfeis (bull feast) in which a bull would be sacrificed and a seer would sleep in the bull's hide to have a vision of the future king. (minangkabau and water buffalo).
looking at depictions of sacred bulls in ancient art, i designed a collection of patterns meant to invoke the wonder and respect our ancestors had for these animals. their close assocation with agriculture and continued inter-reliance between humans and cattle. power and strength, gentleness and stability.