Painter And An Actress
This is the story about Shanti, a female elephant who is a permanent resident of the Prague Zoo. Even though they say art doesn’t pay, her paintings are selling for up to 2000 dollars!
Besides painting, this talented elephant is famous for her role as elephant Bimbo in the movie “Alarm in the sky”. Her acting career is something she might return to considering she is currently experiencing a creative block. After finishing her twelfth painting she lost her inspiration and refuses to pick up the brush. Like a true celebrity Shanti is involved in charity work. The money raised from selling the paintings is donated to an elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka. She is a real humanitarian! Well, some of us can really learn from her, don’t you agree?
Art Or Training
But is this really art or just training? There have been known cases of elephants who can paint for many years now. British biologist Desmond Morris researched this phenomenon and concluded it is the case of pure training. The elephant’s trainer stands in front of the elephant the whole time while she is painting and directs her trunk in the desired direction by nudging her ear back and forward, up and down. As with many magic tricks this is also a case of diverting attention and a misinterpretation of what is being seen, as the audience’s eyes are directed toward the painting canvas and the elephant’s trunk. If we do not observe the trainer carefully we will not see the fine movements he is directing the elephant with but only a man who is caressing elephant’s ear.
Shanti Is A Keeper
Nevertheless, whether it is training or true inspiration, considering the price her paintings fetch this is an elephant everybody would like to own. So, just look at this video and let her inspire you! Isn’t she really amazing?
