“Chirocephalus One” by Leo Jahaan.
Oil on canvas, 2014.
180 cm x 70 cm.

“Chirocephalus One” is based on a diagram from a natural history encyclopedia published in 1850, depicting a form of freshwater shrimp. In real life this type of shrimp has an average length of only 1 – 2 cm, making this painting possibly the world’s largest chirocephalus.

“Elevator Action” by Leo Jahaan.
Oil on canvas, 2014.
120 cm x 40 cm.

“Elevator Action” is based on a technical diagram showing the workings of a ‘gearless traction elevator’. This type of electrical elevator was becoming common in 1921 when the original diagram was published, having succeeded earlier types of elevator that used steam power and water pressure, as well as hand-powered elevators.  The gearless traction elevator solved many problems from earlier designs and contributed to the proliferation of taller buildings.

“Matsuzakaya” by Leo Jahaan.
Oil on canvas, 2014.
90 cm x 120 cm.

“Matsuzakaya” is based on a Japanese department store’s paper that was used to wrap purchases in the early 1900’s.  Japan was one of the first countries to use these custom wrappings for virtually every purchase, even in small stores, while other countries were still using plain brown paper.  The first Matsuzakaya department store opened in 1611 and a chain of stores still exists today.

“Ethiopian Slave” by Leo Jahaan.
Oil on canvas, 2014.
120 cm x 90 cm.

“Ethiopian Slave”.  At first glance the subject appears to be an elegant and proud tribal woman, however her stern appearance and the scars on her face betray the fact that she is in fact a slave.  Based on an engraving from an encyclopedia published in 1875, the woman was being sold in Khartoum, a center of the slave trade in the Sudan region at the time.