Artwork Details

The Last Rhino
This project is dedicated to the memory of the last male northern white rhino, Sudan. He died in May of 2018 in Kenya. Inspired by his story and wanting to address the devastating effects of poaching, I created a surreal image of a hot air balloon pulling an old rhinoceros' horn away from him. Using three-dimensional sculpting tools, I designed my character as an anthropomorphized version of a rhino wearing a dashing striped suit while holding a cane. His human characteristics and upright posture engage the audience with the story, making them empathize with his predicament. Given the somber nature of the content, my choice of bright colors and intricate patterns might be perplexing to some. I purposefully wanted to create a paradoxical world to highlight the absurdity of our reality, in which one values a part of the rhinoceros so much, that one is willing to sacrifice the only possible surviving male progenitor of the species to obtain it.

A Gemini’s Autoportrait
This is a patchwork of my many selves, accurately portraying the different moods and facets of my personality, which have been battling inside of me during this quarantine. Art, in all its forms, has always played an integral role in helping me make sense of the world; even more so during these uncertain times. As I’ve progressed into 2020, this piece of work has compelled me to self-reflect and reinvigorated my desire to create despite the chaos both around and within me.

Artist Bio

Chantal Kassarjian is a Lebanese designer and animator of Armenian descent, based in New York City. Her cultural heritage is intricately woven into her design aesthetic and the polemic subjects she chooses to tackle. She has an M.F.A. in Digital Animation with distinction from Pratt Institute. Having explored both the realms of graphic design and animation, her style is a patchwork of disciplines, techniques, and ideas. Her work embodies her playful artistic process and conveys her love for illustration, typography, photomontage, and motion arts. She wishes to use her skills to create compelling visual experiences and tell stories that matter.