Yusup Khamchiev, a renowned Ingush sculptor and woodcarver, created the sculpture ‘Flock’. He chose a heart-touching narrative: a herder in traditional clothing watches over his flock in the pasture and clutches a small lamb to his chest.

The artist convincingly portrayed the man with a papakha (a tall Caucasian fur hat) and the animals around him. He paid special attention to the animals’ anatomy. The master meticulously conveyed the proportions and pace of sheep, as well as the details of the horns of the goat and the sheep. He admitted that he always preferred animalism:

An important focal point of the entire composition is the Caucasian mountain goat in front of the flock. It is also called “the West Caucasian tur”. The Ingush herders noted that the goats usually play the role of the alpha male in a sheep flock. They are distinguished by outstanding intelligence and caution. However, the sculptor emphasized that it was a wild mountain animal, not a domestic one, who was ahead.

This smart and strong tur with typically curved horns is endemic to the Caucasus which means it lives only here. The Caucasian mountain goats are perfectly adapted to wildlife: they can easily climb cliffs and survive for a long time on the most meager plant food. Their hooves do not slip even on the smoothest inclined surfaces. The legs' structure allows them to spring upwards.

By depicting the mountain goat as an alpha male, the craftsman added a deeper meaning to the Ingush sculpture: it can be interpreted not only as an homage to the highlanders' daily life of the past centuries but also as a metaphor of freedom, which is especially important for the Caucasians.

Presently, Yusup Khamchiev is a member of the Artists’ Union of Russia and the Artists’ Union of the Republic of Ingushetia. He was awarded the title of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia. He is considered a custodian of highlanders' woodcarving traditions. The artisan usually chooses linden for carving because it is easy to work with it in all directions. Linden is pliable and unpretentious. His works are distinguished by their simplicity and the integrity of the composition.