The Great Elephant Migration | Art Basel 2024
I have to say that being a photographer, an artist, in Miami, especially during Art Basel week is a pretty wonderful thing to be when you are surrounded by endless inspiration. Endless art, inspiring events, vibrant colors, art deco architecture, and the beautiful souls I get to photograph and work with all fuel my desire to keep creating.
This week, though, my inspiration and desire to get out of bed came from a herd of 100 elephants. Okay, maybe not real elephants but the most incredible immersive art exhibit called The Great Elephant Migration
Walking in to the exhibit feels like walking into the opening scene from The Lion King. Or a dream. The installations are life sized sculptures and all of them are uniquely modeled after elephants from South India. All of them are uniquely different from the next.
What I walked away with is that this art installation doesn’t just show 100 elephants; it shows symbols of family, connection, resilience.
I’m a photographer and an artist who spends so much time documenting the connections between humans –whether that looks like a couple in love, a glowing expecting mother, a family sharing cuddles and laughter — so this exhibit during Miami Art Week truly resonated with me.
Art With Meaning
The Great Migration is the result of the incredible artisanal work created by The Coexistence Collective.
They are made with an invasive weed called lantana camara, which is also threatening this elephant species and their habitats in South India.
The purpose behind this massive art installation is, first, to inspire coexistence. Second, to fight the threat of this invasive weed species by raising funds and awareness to environmental issues. This art installation has traveled across the world and the elephants are for sale!
As a photographer, not only was I marveling at this beautiful creation (because, let’s be real, this might be the closest I ever get to a herd of elephants!)
but I was also making a million mental notes about the light and shadow play on each sculpture as the sun came up over the horizon.
The use of negative space between each animal to portray movement was brilliant. The use of different sizes to display family bonds inspired me to explore more dynamic compositions, bonds and unspoken connections when photographing families.
My Final Thoughts
The Great Elephant Migration was more than an art installation/exhibit to me — it was an experience that stayed with me and has inspired me to approach my work a little bit differently and it was a celebration of the power that art has to transform us, to make us better.
If you went or if you’ve ever seen this installation in another city, I’d love to hear what you thought. And if you are looking to hire a photographer to capture the connections in your life –whether it’s an engagement, wedding, maternity, or something else, I’d also love to hear from you! You can contact me here
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