In Love with my Dynamic Soft Elephant

In Indian culture and Hinduism, elephants are revered as sacred symbols embodying strength, wisdom, and royal power. Their significant presence in various traditions and rituals is a testament to their deep-rooted connection to the divine.

This connection is most famously illustrated by Ganesha, the beloved elephant-headed god, who plays a pivotal role in Hindu beliefs by removing obstacles, bringing good fortune, and blessing new beginnings in both mundane and spiritual journeys.

During festivals, these majestic creatures are adorned with vibrant colours, intricate patterns, decorative paints, shimmering bells, and luxurious silks, transforming them into stunning works of art. They participate in grand temple processions, where they are treated with the utmost respect and care, seen as living reflections of divine grace and an embodiment of the sacred spirit that permeates Indian culture.

Reflecting Chila Burman’s Indian heritage, ‘In Love with my Dynamic soft Elephant’ captures this rich cultural heritage with the glitz, glamour, and iconicity of Bollywood while also celebrating its vibrant traditions and stories. Embellished with luminous jewels and her trademark vivid neon colours, ‘In Love with my Dynamic soft Elephant’ stands out as a shining beacon of hope and joy in these uncertain times, inspiring audiences to embrace their roots and encourage a sense of unity through the power of art and culture.

Did you know:

• Their trunks have zero bones and contain over 40,000 to 150,000 individual muscle units
• The trunk is strong enough to snap tree branches and sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of grass
• They spend up to 19 hours a day just eating plants, roots, bark, and crops
• They produce over 200 pounds of dung a day, which helps plant seeds grow all over the forest
• They have giant brains weighing up to 13 pounds and show complex feelings like joy, grief, and empathy
• They can recognise themselves in mirrors and mourn their dead family members

A Lightpool 2026 commission

Artist: Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE
Since the mid-1980s Chila has been exploring the experiences and aesthetics of Asian femininity in paintings and installations, photography and printmaking, video and film. In her more recent works, this theme has taken on a new power and vibrancy.

Challenging stereotypical assumptions of Asian women, her work is informed by popular culture, Bollywood, fashion, found objects, the celebration of femininity; self-portraiture exploring the production of her own sexuality and dynamism; the relationship between popular culture and high art; gender and identity politics. 

As well as being awarded numerous accolades over the years, including her honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts London in 2018, on 1st June 2022, Chila was given an MBE in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Honours, for services to art.
 

Opening Times

Lightpool Festival Trail

21 Oct 2026 - 31 Oct 2026

Ticket Pricing

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.