Robert Hague with Mali the giant elephant sculpture. 84351 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
NEWPORT artist Robert Hague had the whopping task of painting a giant sculpture of Mali the elephant for Melbourne Zoo’s 150th anniversary.
Robert was selected to paint one of 50 elephant sculptures which will be part of a herd of Malis appearing in the city from August for a one-of-a-kind public art event, ‘Mali in the City’.
As many Melburnians would remember, the birth of Mali the baby elephant caused quite a stir when she was born in 2010, with thousands of people flocking to the zoo to get a glimpse of its latest arrival.
Robert said he was thrilled to have been selected to be part of the project.
“I work mainly in fine arts so it’s been fun to do something for the community.”
The artist said having the giant sculpture in his home studio had also been a thrill for his two young children.
“I’ve taken it to my son’s primary school and it’s had a bit of a tour around Hobsons Bay on the back of a trailer,” he said.
“My three-year-old has just been enamoured with the elephant.”
The elephants are on display at Melbourne Zoo this week and will start appearing in around the city next month and will be auctioned in October to raise funds for the zoo.
