Breaking Point

Breaking Point explores the tension between captivity and instinct, depicting wild animals who - after years of confinement, reached a moment of violent rebellion. Through hand-tufted textiles, I capture Travis the chimpanzee, Tilikum the orca, and Mantecore the white tiger—creatures pushed beyond their limits, striking back in a way that shocked the world.

Rendered in hyper-bright colors and plush textures, these works contrast softness with brutality, inviting viewers to confront the complex relationship between humans and wild animals. Though often adored and controlled, these creatures are never truly tamed. Their attacks were not acts of evil, but inevitable responses to unnatural conditions.

By immortalising them at their breaking points, I ask: what do we expect when we confine nature for entertainment, companionship, or spectacle? These pieces challenge the illusion of control and remind us that even in captivity, wildness cannot be erased—only suppressed.