Okapi Shoot

The concept behind the Okapi shoot which is to happen this weekend, is to re-create Waterhouse paintings in an African setting. I have always been a fan of the pre-Raphelite artist. There are many parallel's that can be drawn between the mythology and mysticism in his work and the ideology behind Okapi as a brand. You will taken back into the pre-colonial Africa of Rider Hagard's 'She,' ruled by God's and Goddess's with ritual, sacrifice and skins.

Hylas and the Nymphs -

In this epic painting Gaye (see below) will replace all of the Nymphs trying to seduce Hylas (and his Okapi bag)

The Lady of Shallot -

Waterhouse painted this to illustrate Tennyson's tragic poem.

Here is a rather whimsical extract from the beginning;

"Only reapers, reaping early,
In among the bearded barley
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly;
Down to tower'd Camelot;
And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy
Lady of Shalott."

Lamia -

(also know as Lilith I think?) was (in Greek mythology) the beautiful Libian Queen who ate children, she was also known to have a serpents tail - this idea was popularised by the Keats poem that Waterhouse was probably illustrating here.

I had to change my model for the Okapi shoot and have decided to go with equally breathtaking Gaye McDonald who will fill the positions of the paintings above;