‘The Great Elephant Migration’ by Coexistence Collective: 100 Life-Sized Elephant Sculptures on Miami Beach for Conservation
As part of Miami Art Week the Coexistence Collective, a group of 200 Indigenous artists from South India have installed The Great Elephant Migration along the shores of Miami beach. The series of sculptures comprises 100 life-sized wooden elephants, modelled after real individual ones from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in South India. Organized by Ruth Ganesh, the travelling art installation is part of her work with the artist collective's parent non-profit, Real Elephant Collective, which she founded with researcher and scientist Tarsh Thekaekara. The organization’s goal is simple: to promote a harmonious coexistence between elephants, nature and humanity. This is why The Great Elephant Migration is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land.
Every time the piece is installed in multiple locations worldwide, every single elephant sculpture is up for sale. Its prices range from USD 8,000 for baby elephants to USD 22,000 for 15-foot-tall adult males with long tusks. All proceeds from the sales go to 22 partnering non-governmental organizations that work in elephant conservation. Some also benefit other species that live closely with elephants. So far, after travelling to Newport, Rhode Island, South Florida Beach and Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, 250 elephant sculptures have been sold, helping to ensure the longevity of real-life elephants across the globe.
The Miami Beach installation is sponsored by the luxury Italian brand Xerjoff. The brand is selling its perfume Coexistence on the spot for those who wish to donate to the cause but cannot host the gigantic sculptures at home. Each elephant sculpture also becomes even more profound when viewers consider how they are made from common lantana (Lantana camara), an invasive species of flowering plant which has threatened the habitats of Indian elephants and tigers. Here, the installation is not only raising funds to help conserve elephants, but has also taken concrete steps to help preserve their lives in its production process.
The Great Elephant Migration by the Coexistence Collective is a striking art installation highlighting the urgent need for elephant conservation, especially for the Asian elephants they represent. Over the last three generations, the species has seen a a 50 percent drop in their population. As a result, only 40,000 - 50,000 Asian elephants are left in the wild today. With installations in global locations and support from organizations like luxury brand Xerjoff, the project not only raises critical funds for 22 NGOs but also sparks awareness about preserving biodiversity. By merging art, activism and community, The Great Elephant Migration highlights the shared responsibility to protect wildlife and their ecosystems.
Find out more about The Great Elephant Migration and other initiatives by the Coexistence Collective on their website www.therealelephant.com/coexsistence-collective or Instagram @greatelephantmigration.