One hundred handcrafted elephant sculptures are arriving at the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston this Saturday. The installation remains open to the public through September 13.
This collection features life-size wooden statues crafted by 300 artisans in India. Each piece represents a specific elephant from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The statues are made from Lantana camara, an invasive shrub that frequently forces wildlife into conflict with human populations in southern India.
Ruth Ganesh, co-founder of the project, notes that the exhibition serves a dual purpose. By transforming an invasive plant into art, the project clears space for nature while raising money for conservation efforts. Proceeds from the sale of these sculptures fund projects designed to protect elephant habitats and reduce human-wildlife encounters.
The installation has traveled across the United States since its debut in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 2024. Organizers report that approximately 700 sculptures have already been purchased to support ongoing work in the field. Visitors in Boston can walk the mile-long installation to see the work and learn about the conservation mission.