Ibex II by Jan Pypers captures a striking confrontation between two ibex, their horns locked in an intense struggle atop a towering industrial dirt pile. At first glance, the scene appears natural, resembling the rugged mountain landscapes these animals call home. However, a closer inspection reveals an unsettling truth—their battleground is entirely artificial. This deliberate juxtaposition between wild instinct and human-made terrain underscores a central theme in Pypers’ work: the increasing disconnection between humanity and the natural world.

Ibex II continues Pypers’ exploration of artificial environments and their impact on perception. The scene evokes an eerie paradox—despite the ibex following their primal instincts, their surroundings have been shaped by human intervention. The battleground they inhabit is not the result of nature’s design but of industry’s presence, forcing the viewer to question the boundaries between the organic and the constructed. How much of what we perceive as natural remains untouched by human influence?

To bring this concept to life, Pypers meticulously hand-built a scale model, crafting the terrain with precision to evoke both realism and unease. Using controlled lighting and forced perspective, he enhanced the tension of the moment, amplifying the stark contrast between the animals’ struggle and their industrial surroundings. In keeping with his artistic process, the physical model was destroyed after the final photograph was taken, reinforcing the fleeting nature of constructed realities.

The result is a thought-provoking meditation on the fragility of the natural world and the relentless transformation of landscapes by human hands. Ibex II stands as a continuation of Pypers’ broader body of work, challenging viewers to reconsider the spaces we create and the wildness we leave behind.