# Drinking Elephant Sculptures This Rock Sculpture in Iceland Attracts Visitors to the Island By Christopher Magsambol | Published 2015-10-27 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculpture-in-iceland References: [boredpanda](http://www.boredpanda.com/elephant-cliff-rock-formation-heimaey-iceland/) & [demilked](http://www.demilked.com/stunning-elephant-rock-formation-cliff-heimaey-iceland/) This stunning sculpture in Iceland depicts the face of an elephant drinking straight from the Atlantic Ocean. The drinking elephant rises at the edge of Heimaey island and forms a cliff. The name of the island is translated into 'Home Island,' and once was had 4,500 inhabitants. A volcano on Eldfell island erupted in 1973, which sadly wiped away a large chunk of the population. An ambitious project was undertaken which saw locals attempt to cool the lava down with sea water saved within the harbor. The [unique effects of the lava](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1) and its interaction with the Atlantic Ocean helped form the rugged texture and shapes of this [elephant sculpture in Iceland](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fibredog). The unique feature has sparked the interest of many tourists who can now visit the island. Apart from the elephant, the island features golf courses and an airport. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 85% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Ocean-themed Sculptures:** Creating sculptures inspired by the ocean can attract visitors and enhance tourism in coastal areas. - **Disaster-inspired Art:** Art inspired by natural disasters can highlight the resilience of communities and attract attention to affected areas. - **Tourism-driven Regeneration:** Using unique attractions to revitalize areas impacted by natural disasters can create new economic opportunities. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Tourism:** The tourism industry can leverage unique attractions like the drinking elephant sculpture to attract visitors and boost local economies. - **Art:** The art industry can explore new forms of disaster-inspired art that captivate audiences and convey powerful messages about resilience. - **Coastal Development:** Coastal areas can utilize ocean-themed sculptures and attractions to enhance their appeal and attract investments for development projects. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Artistic Amaro Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/see-the-elephant-amaro.md) - [Island-Inspired Wooden Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/island-table.md) - [Sea Level-Measuring Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/totemy-series.md) - [Monumental Air Installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iwagumi-air-scape.md) - [Interactive Marine Ecosystem Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marine-ecosystem-sculptures.md) - [Ljubljana Steel Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-sculpture-lj.md) - [Intricate Glass Whisky Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luminary-no2-rare-sculpture.md) - [Horse-Themed Iceland Travel Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outhorse-your-email.md) - [Elephant-Inspired Charitable Fashion Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elephant-family-usa.md)