Ngogo

Matt Frock

Oil paint on wood panel and frame. 2023

33 x 40 x 6 cm

The title, “Ngogo” refers to the forest in Uganda. Ngogo forest is known for it’s population of chimpanzees. Matt became familiar with the forest and it’s inhabitants via the documentary, “Chimp Empire.” The film intimately displays the everyday life of the chimpanzees there.

The artist recalls, “I was fascinated by the way they mirror us. They’re an exaggerated version of humans, but more pure in their actions. We may be bothered by the same things they stress out about, but we don’t usually discuss or make known our feelings regarding the alpha. In most human situations, the alpha isn’t acknowledged, but they are there. Instead, we stress about money and being on time – the things that make us civil. It’s rare that we acknowledge stress put on us by a dominant figure unless it comes from the boss, but the boss isn’t always the alpha in society.”