Art World
Photographer Creates Candy-Colored Sheep
It's amazing what you can do with non-toxic, vegetable-based dye. Take a look.
Cait Munro
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Forget the lure of the black sheep. Sheep now come in delightful candy colors thanks to photographer Gray Malin. The Los Angeles–based artist created and documented these bizarre beauties based on a story he heard years ago. “When I was young in my career I read a story online about a Scottish sheep farmer who had colored the fleece of his flock in an effort to deter thieves who had been regularly stealing his sheep at night…the surreal images of bright red sheep grazing green pastures ignited a vision that danced in my mind for the past seven years—one I certainly never dreamed to be possible,” he told the Huffington Post.
In order to realize his vision humanely, Malin worked with a team of Australian sheep farmers to craft and apply a non-toxic, vegetable-based dye with the same tools used to administer spray for ticks and lice, so the creatures were not harmed or harried during their time in the spotlight. Animal rights activists that are rightfully incensed over stunts like Cai Guo-Qiang’s tortoise abuse at the Aspen Art Museum can rest easy knowing this pretty flock was as carefree as they look.
Surreal, magnificent, and dreamy, the images would be right at home as the backdrop for an Anthropologie catalogue, and will undoubtedly make a splash on thousands of Tumblr accounts. But the aptly named “Dream Series” also supports a good cause—20 percent of the proceeds from all photos sold go to the Make-a-Wish foundation.
“Bringing this body of work to life has been a dream-come-true for me; but the most important aspect of each image is to incite others to wander from the flock and pursue their own aspirations. To all of those who dream, believe in the impossible because I am proof it is possible,” the artist said.
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