Larger than Life Sculptures

Dotted around London, you might come across giant life-like sculptures. You can’t miss them, and they’re so much fun. They’re not just there to please the eye, but there to raise awareness in the process.

First Encounter In Spitalfields

Lockdown in London was tough, and I remember when the restrictions were lifted, I made a beeline for the City of London. It was deserted, and I remember thinking, "This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime event where the streets were literally empty."

As I made my way down to Spitalfields, a beautiful sculpture caught my attention.

The sculpture of Dog Man and Rabbit Woman. At the time, I didn’t know what the sculpture was about, but I researched it and discovered a whole new world of sculpture with a poignant message. The artists are Gillie and Marc

Gillie and Marc

Before I tell you about the sculpture, let me tell you about Gillie and Marc. Like Dog Man and Rabbit Woman, they are best friends and soulmates. Gillie was horrified when she saw an elephant being shot as a child in her native Zambia. She vowed to dedicate her life and work to Earth’s innocent animals.

Marc went on a conservation safari to Tanzania in his twenties and loved the work. He, too, was moved by the plight of defenceless animals. They collaborate with the theme of togetherness in each of their pieces. At the heart of each sculpture is the conservation element. Both use this medium to raise public awareness.

I love walking around London and seeing the different sculptures. They’re so much larger than life and very different from other sculptures. You will find their work in major global cities, including London, New York, Singapore, Shanghai, and Sydney. Each one is intended to make you pause, think, click and share.

Here are some of the clicks that I’ve taken.

Dog Man and Rabbit Woman - Forever Together

Dog Man and Rabbit Woman are entirely different, but they’ve come together to become best friends and soulmates. I loved the way Rabbit Woman was in the hot seat on the Vespa and Dog Man was in the passenger seat. Both have a mug of coffee. The sculpture is called Together Forever On Wheels. This was my first exposure to Gillie and Marc’s work in Spitalfields.

Wild Table of Love

I love this sculpture. I spotted this in Paddington, and it’s an apt place to present it. Paddington might be a railway station, but it unites people from across the country and visitors from around the world, albeit for a shared journey.

Dog-man and Rabbit Woman are the hosts - 🎉 and they host a banquet for their friends. Their guests include six of the world's most endangered mammals. Gillis and Marc have added two extra seats for the humans to join the table of live, hope, acceptance, and protection.

Go Wild Life

I spotted this on King’s Road in Chelsea. The theme? The Elephant, Giraffe, and their friends are together on the scooter, seeking safety and survival. This unusual team includes a hippo, a Masai giraffe, an Indian elephant, a chimpanzee, a Grevy’s zebra, a cheetah, a koala, a northern white rhino, an orangutan, a lion, and a mountain gorilla, all racing against time.

Each of these animals is facing a different challenge, including poaching, habitat loss, and safety. As human behaviour encroaches on their habitat, these beautiful animals are facing extinction if we don’t act sooner.

The Elephants

I saw the larger-than-life sculpture of the Elephant in Spitalfields. It has now left London, but it was beautiful. Thanks to the Sheldrake Trust, which commissioned this one to raise awareness of the Elephant's plight.

The sculpture is intended to convey hope and strength. The Trust is nurturing the next generation of elephants to be healthy and strong, so they thrive back out in the wild.

It is predicted that we only have nineteen years to ensure the next generation defies the odds of extinction—a sobering thought.

I’ve seen elephants in a sanctuary in Malaysia, and I’ve been touched by them ever since, so this one is special to me.

The Orphans

Each sculptured baby symbolises a real orphaned elephant in the care of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which the artists sketched on a trip to Kenya. A sad reality and another painful reminder from the Sheldrake Trust. Each day, 55 elephants are killed for their Ivory.

The Chimps

Based on real animals Gillie and Marc met while travelling and researching, the public can meet individual animals. This will help them realise that apes have unique personalities, thoughts and emotions. The loss of one individual is just as devastating as losing an individual human.

Wild About Babies

Everyone loves babies, whether they’re human or animal. It’s hard to resist their charms.

I saw these in Paternoster Square- the heart of the financial district in London. I’m glad the banker boys and girls can see the sculptures on their doorstep.

Wildlife is currently facing enormous challenges, such as climate change and poaching, making survival harder every day.

Paparazzi Dogs

I found these outside the historical Royal Exchange. The most notorious celebrity hunters. Since their unveiling, they’ve gone on to become very famous in their own right. I like the tongue-in-cheek. Instead of humans hunting the animals, it’s the animals hunting the humans.

The Friendship Bench

I saw this in Battersea Power Station. Two opposites attract with Dogman and Rabbit Woman. The sculpture encourages people to come, sit on the bench, and talk to each other. Both stand for diversity and acceptance through Love.

Love and friendship are two essential things in today’s world.

Tandem Lovers

As the duo go galavanting around the world and spreading love, peace and joy, in the second money hood in London - Canary Wharf.

With a seat on the back of the bike, this sculpture is interactive, allowing the public to jump on and join Rabbitwoman and Dogman on their next adventure.

Parting Comments

I’ve thoroughly loved spotting Gillie and Marc’s works across the capital, and each one has a thought-provoking message. I would love to hear your comments below.

If you enjoyed reading this article and want to support my work, you can now buy me a coffee ☕️.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TabbyLondon

Thank you for your attention.

Best wishes

Tabby