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10 King Nyani

ARTISTS: Gillie and Marc Schattner
ARRIVAL/UNVEILED: 2021
MEDIUM: Bronze
LOCATION: North Gate entrance

Since being unveiled, King Nyani has held thousands of Zoo visitors in the
palm of his massive bronze hand. At 4,766 pounds and measuring 23 feet
long and 8.5 feet high, the sculpture is one of the largest bronze gorilla
sculptures in the world.
Nyani, which is Swahili for “gorilla,” was produced by the artists who
created the “Faces of the Wild” exhibition. He is a part of their “Love the Last”
project, which aims to raise awareness and support for some of the world’s
most endangered species. King Nyani was inspired by the artists’ unforgettable
encounter with a silverback gorilla and his family of wild mountain gorillas in
Uganda. While watching him interact with his family, the artists were moved
by the silverback’s display of empathy and kindness.
“By being able to sit in his [Nyani’s] hand and look up at his gentle face,
we hope people will fall in love and join the movement to save the gorillas,”
said Gillie Schattner.
A group of donors, including members of CZS’s Board of Trustees and
Women’s Board, brought King Nyani to Brookfield Zoo.

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GATEWAYS | ART LOVERS