Porky Hefer’s Hanging Dwellings, Fit For One Lucky Bird

“When coming up with a new idea or direction, I must be scared. I must lie awake at night,” Porky Hefer admits; and with this sentiment as a barometer, it seems the African artist accrues very little sleep. You might know the tireless artist for his rendition of the Weaver’s nest (the compound communal bird’s-nests found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa), which he meticulously reproduces at human scale and perches high up in trees. In a similar vein of biomimicry—though not confined to the trees—Hefer has crafted another nest, outfitted with leather scales and padded with sheepskin. In line with his usual tendency to embrace local, indigenous practices, Hefer worked with the Woodheads merchants in his local Cape Town, who applied their old-fashioned values to his innovative design—fit for one posh, lucky bird.

Images courtesy of Southern Guild.

At right, view Hefer’s past works and sketches along with the work he will present at Southern Guild, Design Miami/ Basel 2013 - Design Galleries, Booth G36, June 11th – 16th.