Can you imagine an elephant balancing on its trunk? Right here in Zurich, at Paradeplatz, you can see Miquel Barceló’s Gran Elefandret. This monumental bronze sculpture is not your typical elephant statue. It’s a whimsical, almost dreamlike creation, a massive pachyderm seemingly defying gravity. The Elefant Sculpture was here for the summer of 2018, part of the city’s public art project “Neuer Norden Zürich”. The sculpture has travelled the world, “balancing on its trunk” in cities like New York, London, Madrid, and Barcelona, before arriving in Zurich. Barceló himself described the Gran Elefandret as a bronze tree. From afar, it appears as a mass, a ball on a pole. Up close, the elephant reveals itself. This transformation, from tree to elephant, is what Barceló finds so captivating. He calls it a pre-verbal, childhood experience, a fleeting spark of wonder. The contrast between this sensation and the sheer weight of the bronze is what truly fascinates him. The Elefant Sculpture embodies both gravity and grace. It was made possible through the generous support of Leonhard Fischer and Thomas Bock. The Gran Elefandret is more than just a sculpture. It’s an invitation to rediscover the wonder of childhood, to see the world with fresh eyes. So, take a moment to appreciate this magnificent bronze elephant, balancing precariously, yet gracefully, on its trunk, here in the heart of Zurich.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to