Elephant Charge 1999

Editor: So, this is LeRoy Neiman's "Elephant Charge" from 1999. It’s an acrylic painting, and what immediately strikes me is how Neiman uses all these vibrant colors to portray something as massive and, well, grey, as an elephant. How do you interpret the symbolism behind this vividness? Curator: The colours are indeed intriguing, aren't they? Consider the elephant, a symbol across cultures. In some traditions, it embodies wisdom, strength, and good fortune, and royalty in some, while others might see it representing raw power. But look at the palette Neiman chose – is this solely about representing the animal? Or does the fauvist application of color hint at the disrupted harmony in our relationship with nature? What does that charge really signify? Editor: That's a very interesting point. I had not considered the relationship with nature. I suppose the “charge” might not just be physical, but also symbolic, about conflict. Curator: Precisely. It’s an invitation to question: are these vibrant hues a celebration, or are they a cry for awareness about the diminishing space for such magnificent creatures in our world? This, with the distorted expressionist representation of form. The image becomes not just about seeing, but feeling— feeling the precariousness of their existence. Editor: So the emotional impact, the intensity of the colors, underscores the symbolic weight of the elephant's struggle… I definitely see the power of those colors now. Thanks for opening my eyes. Curator: And thank you for yours. It reminds us that even in art, memory, feeling, and the urgency of the present are eternally linked through symbols and colour.