[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkKGCHeQ7nY]
This work celebrates a symbol of England – the lion — by crocheting one out of wool and mounting it in a glass box. The technique, which artist Shauna Richardson calls “crochetdermy”, was used in the “Lionheart Project” to create three giant cats out of steel, polystyrene and 36 miles of Swalesdale wool (to celebrate the East Midlands’ textile heritage). Richardson crocheted the 9-foot beasts’ coats stitch-by-stitch, drawing inspiration from the crest of medieval king Richard I. The lions are now prowling around the East Midlands in a custom-built 53 ft. by 13 ft. glass exhibition vehicle before heading south for the Olympics. There, they will be housed London’s Natural History Museum for the duration of the Games.