Bead in the Shape of an Elephant c. 501 - 800

This small, anonymous sculpture at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is carved from stone into the shape of an elephant. Its subdued green color and smooth, tactile surface invite contemplation. Consider the artist’s reductive approach: the elephant’s form is suggested through simplified shapes, where curves and planes meet to create a recognizable, yet abstract representation. The artist skillfully uses the material’s inherent properties to define the animal’s mass and volume, giving the sculpture a sense of weight and presence. The sculpture operates as a sign, triggering our cognitive understanding of "elephant" through minimal yet effective visual cues. This interplay between material, form, and sign challenges the conventional boundaries of representation. It invites questions about how meaning is constructed through art and how our perception is shaped by these interactions.