Thomas Schütte was born in 1954 and lives and works in Germany. He is one of the most important artists of his generation and has received numerous awards and prizes, including the Düsseldorf prize in 2010 and the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2005.

For the 2013 exhibition at Foundation Beyelerin Basel, Thomas Schütte created a 4m high bronze sculpture of a Hare, Hase 2013, which on the suggestion of hisson, became a fountain now on view at the Beyeler Collection. It is with that sculpture in mind that we approached Thomas to commission a work for Wormsley.

In 2003 Thomas Schütte made seven Hund (Dog) sculptures in fimo modelling clay. They were then followed by four ceramic Hund (1,2,3 and 4), approximately 1m tall, which were the beginnings of the sculpture here at Wormsley.

One of the original maquettes from the Hund series was selected for Wormsley. Thomas came to Wormsley to view the location and position of the sculpture where it has subsequently been installed. Both witty and dramatic “Hund” is tasked with overseeing and protecting both the lakes.