Celebrating the World Elephant Day, Gaj Mahotsav, at the IGNCA, showcases the vulnerability of elephants in their shrinking habitats and their metaphorical relevance in our culture, says Chahak Mittal

A symbol of stately magnificence, grandeur and eminence, elephants have been the most generous creatures of all time. Be it transportation, war or even carriages, the pachyderms have been all such media since the time of kings and monarchs. In our myths and folklore, the elephant has always been valued for its intelligence. However, today they are a threatened species as they continue to be poached for their tusks and suffer dislocation because of encroachment on their traditional corridors and habitats. So some artists got together to highlight the status of one of the country’s most lasting creatures of the wild.

Organised by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the four-day festival called Gaj Mahotsav, celebrates the World Elephant Day, from August 12-15. The festival exhibits 101 life-size art installations dedicating them to 101 elephant corridors identified by the WTI.

As you enter the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), you are surrounded by a variety of elephant sculptures created with straw, paper, nails and screws, old TVs, useless headphones, discs, clay, glass, plastic bottles, and all things waste, the subtle message of environmental degradation as inimical to elephants not lost on the viewer.

Emphasising the rights of elephants, Vivek Menon, CEO of WTI, says, “India is privileged to have the largest population of the Asian elephants but we highly ignore their safety and basic rights. They need a safe and secure movement across the elephant corridors but it is putting their and human lives in danger in the process. To protect India’s rich biodiversity, it is imperative for each one of us to recognise that elephants need a ‘right of Passage’. This festival is about spreading awareness about the conservation of the majestic elephant.”

Dr Alka Pande, the curator for these installations, spoke of the importance of enhancing awareness among the people on elephant conservation. She says, “The idea behind the festival is to make everybody aware about the importance of an elephant’s life in our living habitat. Art is one of the best ways to communicate with human kind. Hence, a number of artists from different parts of India have worked on their interpretation of the elephant creating 101 elephants dedicated to the 101 corridors they live in.”

She names a few artists who have showcased their artworks. “Falguni, a graphic designer and artist, has made an Airavat. On the body of the elephant, there are illustrations of many stories and myths about the mythical Airavat who emerged from the ocean as a result of the Samudra Manthan. Another eye-catching one is Naresh Kapuria’s, who has made an elephant like a rocking horse. Artist Puja Kshatriya has made a beautiful elephant with a golden-gilded hue.”

Apart from the visual feast, there is also a gallery showcasing the representation of the pachyderm in art, literature and popular culture through various workshops, cartoons, illustrations, discussions and poetry, singing and dance.

Ina Puri, co-curator of the exhibition, has brought together works from established masters and tribal artists. She names a few, “There are Gond artists, Madhubani painters, Pichwai works sharing space with Baiju Parthan, Jayasri Burman, Hemi Bawa, Seema Kohli, Rini Dhumal, Paresh Maity, Madhvi Parekh, Manu Parekh, Jatin Das and Narayan Chandra Sinha.”

Puri, who also makes documentaries and short films, has had a long journey with the visual artists. And this one with a cause invested in it, she says, is “a sabbatical from other works. This is going to be a life-long commitment. I will continue to make more such curations for WTI and after having met so many conservationists, I will be more involved. The point is to do something now regarding this state of animals, wake up, and make a constant effort in whichever way possible. This is to raise awareness to break this clash between humans and animals.”

The paintings at her exhibition depict a world where elephants are not just a resource of ivory or animal skin. They are presented as metaphors and carriers of dreams, mystical stories and a symbol of liberation of women, who in the ancient times used to travel in palanquins or on elephants’ backs. She says, “There are stories, fairytales and narratives that are unique to the artist’s life. The elephant becomes a metaphor for vehicles which is a carrier of stories and dreams. The images inside the elephant, in one of the paintings by painter Shipra Bhattacharya, are all worked upon through a feminine form. There are female creatures trapped inside the body of the elephant who are seeking liberation. Even Hemi Bawa’s beautiful illustration mesmerises you. Every other painting and artwork is extremely inspiring and overwhelming.”

The illustrations take you to an exorbitant tour into the world of elephants who could fly with wings and birds all across its body, of elephants who represent their sad vulnerability with books about wildlife conservation on their trunks, of elephants rejoicing in ancient dances and music, of elephants who could roar making the Airavat speak about the precious rain and the Earth, of elephants alerting the people of the current scenario of a technology-ridden, luxurious world that has made materialism synonymous to a perfect lifestyle, making the festival one-of-its-kind and a must visit.

Photo: Chahak Mittal

Carrier of stories