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Essentially it is man's relationship to animals, in particular to elephants, that inspires me to want to express my ideas through them. I use the elephant as a motif or vehicle to express complex ideas about the world we live in. I see them as a metaphor both for man's relationship to animals and for man's relationship to himself: the nature of wild, captive or tame; the nature of freedom and control; the nature of partnership and individuality. My personal relationship to elephants is particular; childhood memories, early experiences of the circus, of seeing an elephant for the first time and re-living the wonderment that something so visually awkward yet ultimately so sophisticated could exist in the world. The form and spirit of elephants are fascinating - prehensile trunks that often become serpent-like; large, padded, silent feet; folds of skin; a beady eye. They possess a great sincerity and humility often tinged with humour. They have immense strength yet are very gentle. They have both male and female attributes, can be aggressive or placid. Their engagement with us is as equals, and they relate to us with a closeness which is always awe-inspiring and often acutely disarming Elephants are a great challenge to make. JIM UNSWORTH - March 1999
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