Terrible Beauty discussion series

The relationship between elephant, human and ivory has a great deal to say about our general relationship with nature and the environment. What opportunities are there to re-frame our attitude towards nature, instead of thinking about it as something detached from our own existence?

A discussion forum of diverse voices will pursue these questions from popular, socio-political and scientific perspectives. The forum will consist of a series of four moderated evening events and a themed day. Using participatory formats such as fish-bowl, round table discussions or audience participation debates, it will expose both the economic and the ecological interconnections that define the relationship of the animal and its ‘cultivated’ remains – the ivory – with the human species: To what lengths will humans go to possess this ‘white gold’? And to what extent are they thinking of either their own innate interests, or above all, those of the animal? What could animal conservation look like today? Who represents the rights of the animal? How could peaceful coexistence function to achieve a global solidarity, a respect and tolerance between human and animal?