Painted African Elephant Sculpture
Artist unknown, ca. 2017- 2019
Imitation ivory, coloured resin
7 x 4 x 9 cm
Gift from Janice Jackson, 2019
Personal collection
African elephants, the largest animal to walk the earth, are praised for their virtues reflected through their size and age. The two subspecies known for their locations in the savannah and forests are highly resilient and collectively work together to make suitable habitats for other species. Their tusks made of ivory historically were a popular source of sculpting material that have been used for decades to craft religious and cultural statues.
In 2019, this statue became part of my personal collection after it was given to me from a friend who obtained it during a trip to Africa. Crafted from imitation ivory in the form of an African elephant, this item may seem controversial as the rare ivory it appears to be has been a target to poachers for decades, hunted and sold profit through illicit trade. Although the material of the artifact is not authentic ivory, the form itself holds great cultural symbolism. In African culture, an elephant represents wisdom, strength and intelligence because their size and age in comparison to other animals. The painted abstract print depicts a traditional pattern worn on clothing that gives a sense of imagined community from the African nation it was obtained from.
Such handmade statues also play a function in a global context, as their symbolism has also been adapted within Western cultures as such products circulate in a tourist market. Authentic, hand-carved ivory statues unlike this one have become a rarity due to the increasing attention brought to animal rights, climate change and extinction that affect the elephant population. The awareness of the unethical poaching of hundreds of elephants has changed production, resulting in this simulated version of the historically authentic statues. This allows African culture to continue to be explored and represented through objects in the present day, where attention to fundamental rights of animals and the functions they play in habitats are considered.
Alanna Cutting