The mammoth is on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus next to the Natural History Building (NHB). The original proposal of this realistic mammoth statue was Stephen Marshak (professor emeritus of geology and the former director of the School of Earth, Society, & Environment (SESE) and Fred Delcomyn, professor emeritus of Molecular and integrative physiology and former director of the School of Integrative Biology (SIB).
According to Marshak, one of the original proposers of the realistic mammoth, the mammoth "reflected the heritage of NHB, which has always been a home for geology and biology, and for many years hosted a Museum of Natural History, which contained casts of mammoth skeletons...The point of the sculpture, building on the heritage of NHB, is to convey an aspect of our region’s natural history." (
https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history)
In other words, the person who proposed building a realistic mammoth claims that the mammoth will reflect what the NHB is on the U of I campus for -- the mammoth will represent and remind viewers of the region's history.
Furthermore, Marshak says in the same source, “[p]aleontological evidence suggests that mammoths went extinct in Illinois about 13,000 years ago....” (
https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history). He also adds that "A real mammoth could very well have once stood on the spot where the sculpture will stand.” (
https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/campus-life/2023/03/14/mammoth-sculpture-uiuc/) In another article, Marshak is quoted to have said that it’s the largest animal since the dinosaurs to have lived in Illinois. (
https://www.wcia.com/news/ui-campus-welcomes-new-unique-statue-in-urbana/)
This leads to further suggestions that the mammoth does not have another intended meaning, as mammoths are extinct and thus represent natural history, but also that they once were the largest animals (perhaps) to roam Illinois after dinosaurs. Choosing a mammoth as a tribute to the natural history of the area is appropriate.
Marshak also says "[The mammoth] is also something that will be a learning experience for students, staff, and the public. It will draw attention to the activities of SESE and SIB in NHB, and to the heritage of the second oldest academic building on campus." (
https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history). Marshak also says that "He wants people to remember that landscapes are constantly changing and that people know the U of I campus occupies a land that has been around for geologic time." (
https://www.wcia.com/news/ui-campus-welcomes-new-unique-statue-in-urbana/)
He continues to say that another reason for the mammoth can be somewhat of a lesson for anyone who sees it -- a lesson reminding the public of what the landscape once was but also a lesson pointing to the heritage of NHB.
In addition, Erika Lee, U of I Facilities & Services interior designer and mammoth structure project manager, says of the mammoth: "Because of the nature of the academic activities that take place at NHB, there was interest in artwork that would depict and communicate in a realistic, naturalistic, or even abstract way, an aspect of the geological and biologic history of Illinois." (
https://www.esconi.org/esconi_earth_science_club/2023/04/uiuc-a-mammoth-tribute-to-illinois-history-fossil-paleontology-deeptime-elephant-mammoth-uiuc-illino.html).
It seems like students understand the symbol too, as student Eesha Baura (sophomore) says, "I think the statue is really cool as an homage to the Natural History Building.” (
https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/around-campus/2023/03/27/uiuc-mammoth-statue/)
Given the interviews with the person who proposed the mammoth alongside someone who worked on the actual mammoth and also one impression of a student who saw the mammoth, it seems like the mammoth really was created to be a symbol/tribute to the natural history of Illinois and what the NHB is around for. It also seems to thus far function as such.
