New York has seen several public art sculptures over the years, but a few months from now, the state will see an exhibit like nothing before it.
From September to October, the Meatpacking District will house one hundred life-size elephant sculptures as part of “The Great Migration”. As described by Time Out, the primary goal of this global fundraising effort is “to uplift Indigenous voices…motivate the human race to share space with their animal neighbors”.
Over the summer, “The Great Migration” is displayed at Newport, Rhode Island’s Cliff Walk. After their stay in New York, the elephants will head to Miami, Montana, and Los Angeles.
India’s human and animal population has doubled in the last 30 years, causing conflict between the two groups. Realizing the problem, “The Great Migration” has stepped in to help. Time Out says that “The Great Migration” hopes it will “emphasize…growing coexistence between humans and wildlife, showcasing the beautiful ways they share space and thrive alongside each other”.
Raising money to fund human-wildlife coexistence projects, this large project relies on the collaborating efforts of Indigenous artisans, contemporary artists, and cultural institutions.
Funds raised will also be used in biodiversity conservation and protecting animals that migrate across land, sky, and water.
Completing the 100 sculptures wasn’t easy, taking The Coexistence Collective over five years to complete. Time Out gives details on The Coexistence Collective, calling them “a group of 200 indigenous artists from the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan, and Soliga communities of India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu”.
Perfecting their art down to the smallest detail, work on the sculptures was drawn from the artists’ personal experiences and generational knowledge of nature and wildlife.
Interestingly, the sculptures are made of something considered a nuisance to elephants and humans: lantana camara. Considered “one of the world’s most invasive weeds”, the lantana camara, when it grows in India’s Protected Areas, forces animals out of their homes and into urban areas.
This nuisance of a plant only increases human-wildlife conflict “The Great Migration” and The Coexistence Collective are trying to prevent. Using the plant this way decreases its presence in these protected areas, allowing animals like elephants to stay in their natural habitat.
Want to see the sculptures in person? Head to the Meatpacking District in September or October and prepare to be blown away.
