The Last Boar of Bradford

The Last Boar of Bradford is ultimately of a story about a poorer working class man out witting a richer man who tries to take credit for his work. In itself it is a rare story of rags to riches without ‘consequence’ 

It is the symbol of Bradford and in a way a reflection of it's working class values.

However the reason for this tale in the first place is a direct cause of an intense agrigultural evolution as well as the over hunting of native game with in England. 

The boar is the last of its kind; and in killing it a line of yorkshire boars is forever wiped out to the benefit of man. 

My aim in this piece was to almost mythicise the Boar it's self. The faded blue eye, dulling gold stripes. The inclusion of a bluebell reflects this as well as Bluebell flowers are regarded as an ancient indicator of the woodland. Somthing undisturbed for hudreds of years. Which, in a way, is what the boars were; what the last of it's kind represents. 

Thistles in greek mythology were seen as the creation of Demeter; made to protect the land. However, dying with a two headed dagger in its back, the boars death shows there is no true protection against the will of man.