A herd of 100 beautifully sculpted life-sized lantana elephants is on display in London’s Green Park, St. James’s Park & Berkeley Square until Friday 23 July, before being sold for charity.
Each unique elephant sculpture included in this environmental art exhibition was meticulously handcrafted by the tribal communities in the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India, home to a150 magnificent wild elephants and a quarter of a million people who live alongside in complete harmony.
A Weed for an Environmental Creed
The material used is called "Lantana camera" – an invasive plant that has become a notorious toxic weed in Asia. By chopping it down, the makers protect grazing animals and biodiversity while raising funds for wildlife.
The impressive sculptures are on a global tour to spread the message of conservation and tell the story of our over-populated planet, the impact of human invasion on ecosystems, and the creative ways people can coexist with wildlife.
Shubhra Nayar and Ruth Ganesh, the creative minds behind the elephants’ 13,000-mile migration around the world invite visitors to “come and walk amongst the herd, feel their peacefulness and majesty. Listen to the birdsong in the trees and become part of their primordial world. Stand with the matriarchs leading their families, touch their immense forms, and be touched by them. The planet is our home and theirs. The herd is here to tell their story of coexistence. That there is room for all of us on this planet.”
The project is called "CoExistence" and everyone is welcome to donate and learn more details from here. If you can afford AND have space in your back garden, you can even purchase an elephant sculpture. They come in four sizes, including a 100-kg baby (£6,000), a 300-kg Matriarch (£22,000), and a 350-kg fully grown Tusker (for £30,000).
📆 Until Friday 23 July.
📍 Green Park, St. James’s Park & Berkeley Square, London
____________________________________________________
Did you enjoy this article? Great! If you'd like to contribute to the running costs of WithinLondon, click the button below:
Comments