Much like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, Colwood’s mammoths have also refused to stay extinct.
“Life finds a way,” famously declared Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm in the '90s movie blockbuster – but in Colwood, it’s art that found a way.
Destroyed by fire last year, two driftwood mammoth sculptures have risen from the ashes and returned to their old stomping ground in Royal Bay.
Behind the resurrection is artist Alex Witcombe, who was commissioned by developers of the $1.2 billion Beachlands neighbourhood, set to bring 2,850 homes to the area over the next 15 years.
Responsible for the two mammoth sculptures first installed in 2017, Witcombe says the new mother and calf honour the original design, bringing with them a fresh twist.
“It's impossible to recreate a piece, and there is no formula,” he explains. “New pieces of wood bring new character – so they’re familiar, but with their own spirit.”
While their frames are built from welded steel for support, the mammoths’ bodies are crafted from natural wood shaped by the ocean and time, all foraged from Vancouver Island beaches.
With an abundance of driftwood scattered along the shore, some might assume that sourcing the materials needed for the sculpture was an easy task.
But finding the right wood is always one of the biggest challenges, says Witcombe. For this mammoth task, it was the tusks that proved the most difficult.
“Sometimes I walk the beach for hours or even days looking for the right piece,” he said.
“It’s more than just size and shape – it’s about feel. Each piece has to work structurally and also tell a bit of the story.”
Because the search for materials starts long before the first piece is placed, Witcombe is unable to pin down how long it took to build the mammoth and its calf.
“As for hours, I don’t track my time, but let’s just say it’s a labour of love,” he says. “It’s less about the clock and more about when the sculpture starts to feel alive.”
The sculptures are a nod to the site’s prehistoric pedigree. A mammoth tooth was discovered on the property during gravel operations several years ago. The tooth is now part of the Royal BC Museum collections.
That prehistoric connection makes the triumphant return of the mammoth and calf all the more meaningful for the community, who have warmly welcomed the sculptures back to their rightful home – something the artist is grateful for.
“I’ve heard from a lot of people who are excited to see the mammoths back, and it’s clear they’ve become part of the local landscape in a meaningful way,” he said.
But for Witcombe, once an art piece is finished and out in the world, he tends to disconnect from it. He feels the mammoths now belong to the community.
“For me, the joy is in the magic,” he says. “If the mammoths bring people joy, spark imagination or become part of their day – that’s what matters.”
For more information and updates on Witcombe's next phase creating one-of-a-kind sculptures, follow his Instagram page: www.instagram.com/driftedcreations.
