Peter Beard's elephant entitled Mammouth Metaphor

Some prominent British artists helped a good cause last May Day by putting their talents to designing elephants which then took to the streets of London.

The object of the parade was to help raise money for the conservation of Asian elephants, whose numbers are dwindling even more severely than those of the African elephant, from 200,000 a century ago to a fifth of that population now. To raise money, each of the elephants has been sponsored and will be auctioned.

One of the most popular elephants is likely to be Benjamin Shine’s contribution – so much so that arrangements have already been made for it to be covered by a 24-hour guard at its location by the Royal Exchange. Shine, a young artist, has transformed the template into a glossy black taxi, powered by a solar cell so that a sign lights up at night and its eyes turn into headlamps.

Another is a white-coloured elephant beside an enormous bronze flower, also white, by the sculptor Mark Quinn, one of four elephants generously sponsored by the Indian private equity investor Cyrus Vandrevala and his heiress wife, Priya. Quinn recently caused controversy by sculpting a nude of a thalidomide woman for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Rebecca Campbell, the wildlife artist, has created an elegant elephant, painted with flora and fauna such as palm trees and tigers. Rina Banerjee, an Indian artist working in New York, has plastered her elephant, Argus-like, with dozens of eyes. Peter Beard, artistic photographer and conservationist, has created one of the most iconic elephants entitled Mammouth Metaphor.

If you want to find out more about helping this great charity please go to:  http://www.elephantparadelondon.org/

Author: Ty_Lee

Ty is a lover of all things art - from the classical to the neo classical, his appetite for art is insatiable. Devouring all forms and patterns, he is constantly on the look out for art that elicits emotion reactions within his own continuum and those of others. Always friendly and happy to have a chin wag about the latest art his Buddhist views permeate the kaleidoscope of his vision.