New art installations of chimpanzees from acclaimed art duo, Gillie and Marc, have been revealed around Richmond town centre.

The nine bronze chimp statues called 'Chimps are Family' were donated from the artists in collaboration with Be Richmond and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Gillie and Marc have come up with the idea after meeting the families of three of the great ape species: chimps, orangutans, and gorillas, in the wild.

Artists Gillie and Marc say they brought the project to Richmond because of its vibrant community (credit: Be Richmond).

Speaking to Richmond Nub News, they said: "We were struck by how similar they are to us. Their sweet little babies were just as cheeky as human babies and very attached to their mothers.

"Watching them grasp onto things just like human babies do, we felt a deep connection and were reminded of our shared evolutionary past.

"This experience moved us profoundly and inspired us to create sculptures that celebrate these similarities and raise awareness about the need to protect them."

By scanning the OR codes within the sculptures, residents can learn more about chimps and WWF's conservation efforts (credit: Be Richmond).

The artist say that each sculpture was crafted to express different chimpanzee behaviour such as laughing, grief, and imitation.

Their process involved "extensive" research into the animals mixed with their first hand experience with them.

"We aim to capture their unique personalities, emotions, and the special bonds they share within their family units," Gillie and Marc explain.

"The sculptures are designed to be interactive, allowing the public to get close, touch, and engage with them.

"This tactile element is crucial in fostering a deeper connection and understanding of the chimps' lives."

British and Australian artists, Gillie and Marc, also decided on chimps for the project because they share 98% of DNA with humans, which hopefully makes "people realise that the loss of a chimpanzee is just as devastating as losing a human family member."

The art sculptures of the chimps are called 'Chimp are Family' (credit: Be Richmond).

Gillie and Marc add: "Richmond was selected as the next location for the "Chimps Are Family" exhibition due to its vibrant community and commitment to cultural and environmental initiatives the artist reveal.

"After the success at London Bridge and Kingston Upon Thames, we wanted to reach a new audience and spread the message of conservation further.

"Richmond's diverse population and active engagement with public art make it an ideal setting for our sculptures.

"We are excited to see how the residents of Richmond will interact with and be inspired by our work."

There are nine bronze chimp statues in Richmond (credit: Be Richmond).

Residents are encouraged to visit the exhibition and take the time to interact with the sculptures as each comes with a QR code that provides information about the individual chimpanzee and conservation efforts.

The artists say the main goal of the project is to support the work that WWF-UK does to promote the awareness of endangered wildlife and fund positive initiatives for their survival.

To find out more about WWF and donate, click here.

To find out more about Gillie and Marc, click here.

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