Magnificent Beasts

All creatures wild and wonderful

Without animals, human history, culture and art would look very different. Whenever language has failed us, we have sought inspiration from these voiceless co-passengers hurtling with us through space on a blue planet. When we want to represent wealth and power beyond all imagining, we summon up the elephant. When we want to symbolise valour that no enemy can shake, we paint on the stripes of a tiger. And when we want to escape this world our own deadly enterprise has built, we ride on the wings of birds. This June, Sarmaya takes a long, loving and grateful look at the animals that live in our collection and reflect the state of our humanity