In recent days, a group of giant art sculptures has appeared in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan, New York City. 100 life-sized elephant sculptures quietly descended upon this busy street area, becoming one of the largest outdoor art installations in the history of New York City.
Named “Great Elephant Migration,” this art project spans along the 9th Avenue in Manhattan, stretching from Gansevoort Plaza to West 15th Street. Each sculpture showcases a unique pose, accurately replicating real elephants freely roaming in southern India.
According to the official website, these astonishing sculptures are made from an invasive weed plant called Lantana camara. The Lantana camara massively grows in the forests of India, posing a threat to the survival environment of local wildlife. Artists ingeniously transformed this harmful plant into beautiful artworks to convey the idea that humans and animals can coexist harmoniously in the same space, aiming to raise awareness for ecological conservation and raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations.
The creators of the “Great Elephant Migration” project are an organization called Coexistence Collective. This organization consists of 200 indigenous artisans from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in India who spent several years meticulously crafting these sculptures, each conveying the concept of harmony between humans and nature.
These elephant sculptures have sparked strong reactions among the citizens of New York City. Many passersby have been drawn to these lifelike creations, unable to resist touching and embracing them. Some have mentioned that the sculptures evoke memories of their trips to Africa, while others are amazed by the realism of the sculptures, hesitating to approach too closely.
“Great Elephant Migration” is also a project supporting global charitable activities. The sculptures will be on display in Manhattan until October 20, after which they will travel to locations such as Miami Beach and Los Angeles. Each sculpture is available for purchase, with prices ranging from $8,000 to $22,000, and the proceeds will be used to support wildlife conservation projects.