Nevercrew’s ‘Switch’ Elephant: A Visual Metaphor for Time and Awareness

We are skillful in avoiding discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries and war-makers try to ignore, even as they steal the future from all of our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

The mural appears to explore themes of perspective, change, and awareness. The glass-domed shape suggests the passage of time, symbolizing urgency and the continuous flow between different states, such as the past, present, and future. The floating elephant with its trunk above water might represent a struggle for survival or the need to adapt to changing circumstances. Elephants are often symbols of wisdom and memory. In this context, the mural may illustrate a clash between the natural world and human-made environments, represented by the quaint town of modern consumers below.

Ultimately, the artwork seems to confront us with realities we often keep at a distance—urgent issues that demand our attention. It invites viewers to “switch” their perspectives and become more aware of the interconnections between nature, human actions, and the passage of time.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)

No one is discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries  try to ignore, even as they steal the future from our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

No one is discussing the elephant in the room: our relationship with the Earth and its natural elements, which are negatively impacted by our actions. This is perhaps the biggest issue that polluting industries  try to ignore, even as they steal the future from our children.

Swiss duo Nevercrew masterfully depicts this metaphor in their mural “Switch,” created in Wuppertal, Germany, for the Urbaner Kunstraum and curated by WupperOne929 and Valentina Maoilov. While their description of the work may seem deliberately vague, a closer examination reveals a call to reflect on pressing issues.

NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
NEVERCREW / Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni. “Switch”. Urbaner Kunstraum Wuppertal. Germany. (photo © courtesy of the artists)
238
138
45