Trunk Call

London is overrun with a herd of baby elephants spotty polka-dotted,black-hatted,bejewelled and awash in blazing red and jade,the Asian pachyderms are trampling through the citys hotspots.

London is overrun with a herd of baby elephants spotty polka-dotted,black-hatted,bejewelled and awash in blazing red and jade,the Asian pachyderms are trampling through the citys hotspots. From looming over Trafalgar Square and roaming around the Speakers Corner at the iconic Hyde Park to stampeding outside the Royal Exchange,the nimble-footed pachyderms,created by top-of-the-heap artists from across the world,including Indian designers like Tarun Tahiliani and artists like Anjolie Ela Menon,are watching over the city.

The two-month-long elephant parade,the biggest art event in the city,has been organised by London-based charity Elephant Family. The Elephant Family was founded by Mark Shands (Camilla Parker Bowles brother) to raise awareness about the conservation of Indian elephants (or Asian elephants ) in 2002. The initiative to have 258 brightly painted life-size elephants marching down central London is expected to raise £2 million and aid 17 conservation charities in the UK . According to the Elephant Family website,the elephants,which have been on the streets from May,delighting the bank holiday crowd,have attracted an audience of around 25 million.

Among the elephantine attractions is a clutch of hathis,beautifully created by Indian designers and artists. Its quite a spectacular event and my creation is called Jewel-ele; it was selected from the 30 best models, said Tahiliani. Mumbai-based fashion designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khoslas Heavens Hathi is splattered in fuchsia pink and covered with a hand embroidered throw made from gold thread,mirrors and beads. Its proved quite a draw with the daily crowd as well as London-based artist Nilesh Mistry.

Delhi-based artist Anjolie Ela Menons shares: I began working on my elephant a month back and it is inspired by early Mughal painting. Some other elephants grabbing the eyeballs are artist Chintan Upadhyays The Empire Is Not Striking Back,with the sun god beaming brightly. Jitish Kallats untitled creation plays on the macabre,with a pair of hands chaining the elephant. However,it is London-based artist Nandita Chaudhuris pig-tailed Boogie Woogie elephant that has brought alive the FIFA mania,showing a one-shoed baby elephant dribbling the ball. Delhi-based designer Manish Aroras Hathi,on the other hand,is painted in his signature flowers with an Om ensconced on a lotus.

Suspended Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi,too,has created eight model elephants,titled after the Indian Premier League teams such as Rajasthan Royals,Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians,while Rina Banerjee,a New York-based artist,has reportedly plastered her elephant,Argus-like,with dozens of eyes. Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad of Baroda has contributed two creations titled Suraj and Gajaraj.

The event will conclude with an elephant parade mela on June 30,(hosted) by Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn,followed by a live auction at The Royal Hospital conducted by Sothebys where the herd would go under the hammer. Another auction,titled The Grand Elephant auction,will take place on the grounds of the Royal Hospital,Chelsea on July 3. The elephant lovers can pick up a miniature elephant at a webshop shop.myastrolife.nl/index.php.

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Trunk Call

London is overrun with a herd of baby elephants  spotty polka-dotted,black-hatted,bejewelled and awash in blazing red and jade,the Asian pachyderms are trampling through the citys hotspots.

London is overrun with a herd of baby elephants spotty polka-dotted,black-hatted,bejewelled and awash in blazing red and jade,the Asian pachyderms are trampling through the citys hotspots.