Zoo trainers in Thailand have actually taught elephants to paint pictures of flowers and portraits of other elephants. Zoo trainers in America and elsewhere are following suit, however many trainers here prefer to let their elephants paint "abstract" art. These portraits are selling for upwards of $25,000 and have been on display in London art galleries.
There is also the "Thai Elephant Orchestra", an orchestra of percussion playing elephants that has recorded two CD's. The star drummer of the orchestra, Praditah, is said to have a remarkably steady beat and also plays swing patterns.
Is the elephant community an untapped artistic market just waiting to be exploited? I fear it might be. Or is this merely one species appreciating the artistic talents of another?
In Africa, it is said that elephants will travel miles and miles to "elephant graveyards" to die. Perhaps they are actually traveling to artistic communes. I wonder... If we were to stumble across one of those infamous graveyards, instead of piles of bones bleaching in the hot sun, might we find elephants trumpeting and stomping in time while others dance gracefully, their trunks swinging to and fro among portraits drawn in the sand?
I think... maybe.
Heather
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