Roughly lifesize, Baba is a demonstration of Harumi's virtuosity in underlining the beauty and complexity of wild creatures through manipulation of precious metals. With her unique rendering of the baboon's form, the artist achieves a distillation of the essence of the animal, its slender back and looping tail suggesting its nimbleness, while its firm stance and steady gaze emphasise the sheer power of these creatures with which we share so much in common.

This artwork takes its name from the Ancient Egyptian deity Baba, who was associated with the underworld. The body of the animal, gilded in 24 carat gold, highlights its ancient divine connotations, and its poise and presence evoke regality. The Ancient Egyptians, with their respect of the sacredness of animals and of the animal form, have provided inspiration for Harumi across her artistic practice. Works such as Baba pay homage to the animal spirit that resides in us all; its steady gaze seems to reach beyond the known world into a greater depth beyond, perhaps towards the realm of the divine.