Art Project
Talking about Art
During our lesson, we discussed how different cultures had deities that could take on characteristics of different animals. A fantastical creature of different animal parts is sometimes called a Chimera.
However, Chimera can also refer to a specific fantastical creature from early Greece. Here is a statue of one, made around 400 BCE in Etruria, Italy.
Chimera d’Arezzo, circa 400 BCE
As you look at this statue, think about how the artist created this fantastical creature. What characteristics is the artist showing for each animal? What do you think this fantastical creature would be like? These questions will also allow you to think about how you want to create your art project.
Now let’s look at another type of fantastical creature, this one from LACMA’s collection. This creature is known as a Pixiu, and it was made in China between 25 and 225 CE. Because this one is a female Pixiu, it is also called a Bixie. It is also sometimes called a chimera, even though it is unrelated to the Greek chimera above. As you look at this statue, think about how this Pixiu differs from a fantastical creature. What animals do you see? What characteristics is the artist showing for each animal? What do you think this fantastical creature would be like?
Funeral Sculpture of a Chimera (Bixie)
China, Eastern Han dynasty, 25-220 CE
Cultures drew inspiration from the animals around them to create these fantastical creatures. They picked specific animals with certain characteristics they observed in nature. For example, early Egyptians borrowed the gaping jaws of a Nile crocodile, a lion's sharp claws and mane, and the strong, lumbering back legs of a hippo to create the fearsome demoness, Ammut the Devourer. In Egyptian tradition, Ammut would swallow up the souls of the wicked in the afterlife, so it made sense for her imagery to be as intimidating as the animals used in her design. What animals would you use to create a fearsome fantastical creature? What animals would you use to create the opposite -- a gentle fantastical creature?
Below is a list of other fantastical creatures (and deities in some cases) from different cultures:
- A Sphinx has the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a human. It is associated with early Egypt and areas, including Assyria, Greece, and Iran. It is a guardian and protector.
Recumbent Sphinx Figurine on a Stepped Platform, Egypt, 323-30 BCE or modern
Cheek Piece from a Horse Bit, Iran, circa 1000-800 B.C.E.
- A Questing Beast has the head of a snake, a leopard's upper body, a lion's lower body, and a deer's feet. It is associated with England and the King Arthur legends. It was likely created as a reaction to British/English people seeing giraffes for the first time.
The Questing Beast, illustration from The Romance of King Arthur (1917)
- A Qilin or Kirin has the head of a dragon and the body of an ox, with scales, antlers, and hooves. It is associated with East Asia. Like the Questing Beast, it was likely created as a reaction to Chinese people seeing giraffes for the first time.
Censer (Lu) in the Form of a Unicorn (Qilin), Chinese, Ming dynasty, 1573-1620
- The Feathered Serpent is a deity seen in different iterations/versions throughout Mesoamerica and known as Quetzalcoatl among the Aztecs, Kukulcan among the Yucatec Maya, and Q'uq'umatz by the K’iche Maya.
Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent
- Ganesh is an elephant-headed deity from India and South Asia. He presides over intelligence and helps to overcome obstacles.
Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles
India, Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir region, 7th century
Sculpture, Copper alloy
- Alebrije is a general term referring to the fantastical creations of Mexico City cartonero Pedro Linares. Linares uses paper mache to create a huge variety of fantastical creatures with different animal parts.
- A Simurgh is a benevolent figure from Persia with the tails of a peacock, a dog's head, and a lion's paws. It is said to be able to purify the land.
- Tikbalangs are horse-headed demons from the Philippines. They are known to trick people by getting them lost in forests. One can undo the trick by turning their clothes inside out, but it is also possible to tame the demon by plucking three golden hairs from its mane.
- Despite being known in popular culture as winged babies, in the Hebrew Bible (Ezekiel 10:14), Cherubim are described as having “four faces: the first was the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.”
- Makara are Nepalese sea creatures that guard pathways and gates. There are many versions of this creature, but its front portion is usually from a terrestrial animal, and its hindquarters are from an aquatic animal.
Mythical Aquatic Creature (Makara)
Nepal, 10th century
Sculpture, Repoussé copper alloy with traces of gilding
Making Art
Step 1: Choose up to 3 characteristics from the list below. You will use these to inspire your fantastical creature. They can be similar characteristics, like we discussed for Ammut or very different characteristics that seem to combine opposites. Feel free to add your ideas too!
My fantastical creature is... (Choose 3)
1______________ + 2______________ + 3______________
EXAMPLE 1: Different Characteristics:
EXAMPLE 2: Similar Characteristics:
My creature is...
Mischievous + Dangerous + Proud
My creature is...
Wise + Intelligent + Clever
Step 2: For each characteristic, think of an animal that reminds you of that characteristic. Do you have a pet you want to incorporate? Or a favorite animal? How about your school mascot?
EXAMPLE 1: Different Characteristics:
Mischievous + Dangerous + Proud
↓ ↓ ↓
Monkey Hippo Peacock
EXAMPLE 2: Similar Characteristics:
Wise + Intelligent + Clever
↓ ↓ ↓
Tortoise Dolphin Crow
Step 3: Draw each animal on a piece of paper. Draw big, and don’t worry too much about details or having it look perfect.
If you’re having trouble drawing your animal, try finding reference images online and breaking the animal’s shape into simple shapes like circles and squares.
Step 4: Use your scissors to cut each animal into three pieces that you think will go well together. If you don’t have scissors, you can draw the pieces separately, as in Example 2.
We used the head, upper body, and lower body, but you can also try making other pieces.
Step 5: Start moving the pieces around, combining one piece from each animal to create a new fantastical creature. Try several different combinations to see what you like. Maybe you want to use more than one piece from each body. Is yours a two-headed figure? Will it have eight legs? What else do you want to add?
Step 6: Feel free to add color and other details as well! Once you have a fantastical creature you are happy with, use the animals and characteristics that inspired you to create a name.
If you feel comfortable, you can also share your fantastical creature with someone else. Or, with adult supervision, feel free to share your finished project with LACMA using the #LACMA hashtag.