Stuffed Jumbo (fragment) 

Sue Coe’s painting “Stuffed Jumbo (fragment)” offers a deeply affecting reflection on captivity, exploitation, and the power of representation. Coe is renowned for her unflinching depictions of animal suffering. In this image, the circus stage becomes a site of profound emotional and ethical inquiry. The contrast between the golden spotlight and the somber tones of the elephants evokes a sense of melancholic spectacle. Jumbo, a celebrated circus elephant, becomes a symbol of lost freedom. The poster presenting Jumbo as a jovial entertainer juxtaposes harshly with the figures on stage. The architectural backdrop hints at a world from which the elephant is estranged. Coe’s work invites us to confront uncomfortable truths about our relationship with the non-human world. By bearing witness to the emotional lives of animals, she challenges us to consider our own complicity in systems of oppression, urging us to reflect on the stories we tell and the values we uphold.