The “Great Elephant Migration” stands out as one of the largest outdoor art installations ever seen in New York City. Recently, 100 life-sized elephant sculptures have made their debut on the bustling streets of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. This remarkable exhibition aims not only to raise funds for animal conservation but also to raise awareness about the challenges faced by elephants.
Ruth Ganesh, co-founder of the Coexistence Collective, shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “All my dreams have come true. The response from New Yorkers has been heartwarming.”
The elephants are strategically placed throughout the Meatpacking District, predominantly along Ninth Avenue. Each sculpture boasts uniquely shaped ears, allowing visitors to easily identify their differences. These one-of-a-kind replicas draw inspiration from real elephants that roam freely in Southern India.
Ganesh observed that visitors often can tell which elephants appear adventurous and which ones exhibit shyer behaviors, conveying a deeper message about character and coexistence. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the international organization Elephant Family USA and the Coexistence Collective, with the sculptures crafted over several years by a team of 200 artisans in India. The project promotes the ideal that humans and animals can live together in harmony.
Ganesh’s partner, Tarsh Thekaekara, conveyed a poignant thought: “These elephants seem to carry a message: if the world’s largest land mammals can share space with humans, then surely other animals can thrive alongside us too.”
Intriguingly, the elephants are made from “lantana,” an invasive weed that has overwhelmed forests and displaced wildlife. Ganesh highlighted the irony that a material often linked to pushing elephants away is being transformed into a project aimed at their preservation.
The journey of these elephants commenced in Newport, Rhode Island, and they will be gracing New York City streets until October 20. However, their travels don’t stop there. Ganesh envisions selling 1,000 elephants before they arrive in Los Angeles, with planned stops at the Basel Art Fair in Miami Beach and Browning, Montana. The total sales target is an ambitious $10 million.
Prices for these unique sculptures range from $8,000 to $22,000, with all proceeds directed toward organizations dedicated to enhancing “nature’s benefits to humanity.”
