New York just got another piece of incredible public art. This time it’s a 26-foot-tall bronze elephant sculpture designed by Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo. The 15,000 pound wrinkly elephant arrived yesterday, September 15, in Union Square. The talented elephant is balancing upside-down on his long trunk with the help of a steel tube attached to a steel base. Notice the sagging skin, the off-kilter positioning of the huge legs, and the overturned floppy ears. They’re all meant to show his gravity-defying position.
Called “Gran Elefandret,” the elephant is meant to resemble a metallic tree. As Barceló told ARTINFO, “A tree looks like an upside-down elephant, and when you touch a tree, it feels like the skin of an elephant. It’s an urban work.”
The whimsical piece will be up until May. It is presented by Marlborough Gallery, which represents the artist.
Marlborough Gallery: Website
All images via Marlborough Gallery.