The piece, New Predator, is a praying mantis on top of an Aztecan weapon, known as the macuahoitl. The shapes of the sculptures are modeled after the weapons of the Aztecs and the inspiration for the colors comes from the natural minerals, precious metals, and the colors of the land. The creatures on the base are my interpretation of what happens to artifacts after the people are no longer there. It is part of a sub series of the Aztecan Artifact series called Reclaimed, in which the live creatures represent the return or reclaim of the artifacts back to their natural state. Just as ancient temples are reclaimed by plants and animals of the jungle, so are the artifacts in this series.