An Elephant in the Gallery

Elephant at The Point

Elephant is a large-scale permanent installation by Florence Blanchard in our Gallery space at darts’ home, The Point in Doncaster.

Created to transform one of The Point’s key public area, Elephant unfolds in a continuous diagonal gesture before extending onto the adjoining surface, generating a sense of flow that guides visitors through the space. Painted in multiple shades of green punctuated by contrasting tones, the mural responds directly to the natural light that floods the room. As the daylight changes, so too does the work’s character merging with the building while always offering something new to observe. Distinct in its presence yet seamlessly integrated into the architecture, the artwork becomes an essential part of the room’s identity.

The title draws on the familiar phrase ‘the elephant in the room’ suggesting that something large and present can feel unsettling when overlooked but energising when fully acknowledged. Elephant embraces this idea, greeting visitors with a presence that is bold yet welcoming, playful yet reflective. Rather than dominating the foyer, it invites people to move, pause, and look, fostering this way a deeper sense of connection to their surroundings.

The reference also echoes Kay Ryan’s poem ‘The Elephant in the Room, which considers how something immense can be both unavoidable and curiously unseen. Like the poem, the mural holds this tension: when ignored, its scale may feel imposing, but when met with attention, it sparks curiosity, reflection, and even a sense of play. In a foyer that hosts creative workshops, public events, and gatherings with views onto the garden, the mural encourages visitors to notice it, coexist with it, and ultimately find their own way to “dance” with its presence.

The Elephant In the Room

by Kay Ryan:

The Room is 

almost all

elephant.

Almost none

of it isn't.

Pretty much

solid elephant.

So there's no 

room to talk

about it.