The term matriarch is often used to describe a female leader, particularly within social structures where wisdom and experience are highly valued. In elephant herds, the matriarch is typically an older, more experienced female who guides the group with both strength and empathy.
In this work, I sought to capture the essence of these matriarchal bonds and the powerful, yet tender identities that emerge within elephant families. I aimed for the piece to resonate with a sense of resilience—an enduring force of nature—and a subtle, yet profound gentleness.
However, by isolating the elephant’s head from its natural context, I intentionally strip away its communal identity, forcing the viewer to confront it as a mere object of curiosity, something to be admired and consumed by the human gaze. This disjunction highlights a deeper commentary on our tendency to objectify the beauty and complexity of the natural world, reducing creatures like this elephant to mere spectacles, devoid of their true purpose: to live freely and undisturbed. In this sense, the work becomes a reflection on the cost of our relentless consumption of nature’s wonders. At what price do we strip away their autonomy in our quest to possess their beauty?
