Nomkhubulwane’s North American migration
As part of nature, we co-exist with all other creatures. We are all interconnected, and what happens to one affects the other. This vital connectivity affirms the principle of collaboration across disciplines, using creativity to bring about a more supportive relationship between a planet in crisis, and its peoples.
This was the message that Nomkhubulwane, (Nom-koo-bull-wah’-nee), the matriarchal figure of The Human Elephant Foundation, took to WILD9 in November 2009, partnered by the The WILD Foundation and the Lilleshall Trust of South Africa.
She was named by the legendary Dr Ian Player, founder of the World Wilderness Congress.
When he first saw sculptor Andries Botha’s matriarchal elephant, Dr. Player said “I saw the elephant and I lost my breath. It felt as if I had looked into the eyes of my own god!”
Standing 9 feet tall, and weighting in at 1,3 tons, she is indeed breathtaking in stature and commanding in presence. Nomkhubulwane is created out of recycled tires (materials regarded as redundant or burdensome to the planet) imbues this creative work with a powerful metaphoric references relevant to the planetary crisis we face today. We are confident that her presence will inspire and mobilise community involvement in broader human and ecological issues.
You could not have missed Nomkhubulwane at her first international destination in Mexico where she graced the World Wilderness Congress in November 2009. Now join her on her travels.
Between January 2010 and January 2011, she migrated across North America, as an ambassador of creative possibilities within the physical world. Her station in life is nomadic. Read more about her first stop at the Papalote Children’s museum >
Nom-Koo was well received wherever she traveled. Our partners at the Field Museum in Chicago sent this thoughtful letter upon her departure >
Updates from the Road
