This large sculpture-in-the-round by Abraham Anghik Ruben is as dynamic as it is technically impressive. The work is carved from a large piece of mottled green stone that gradually fades from green to brown in sections, mimicking the composition’s movement through dynamic colour shifts throughout. In its beautifully complex imagery, we see a mix of animals and figures climbing atop and around each other as the sculpture stretches to a height of nearly three feet.

According to the artist, this sculpture was created before he began to incorporate Viking Norse iconography, which has informed his more recent work. In a recent interview, he explained his inspiration for this sculpture: 

it is to convey “Nature at Play, whether it is animals, humans, or birds. You can see many animals and even a boy stealing eggs from a falcon’s nest. The piece is meant to depict all these beings living harmoniously together” [1].

This theme is captured visually by the seamless intertwining of each individual element within one cohesive, brilliant composition. Nature at Play is a perfect example of Abraham Anghik Ruben’s unique ability to weave meaningful content into exquisite sculptural form.

1. Interview with Abraham Anghik, September 2025

PF