Rescued elephants turns painter!

Phoolkali, a rescued elephant, is unaware that she is securing her future as the artworks created by her are selling well.

About 50 artworks are displayed here in an exhibition titled "Ganpati to Gajah". The paintings made by a Singapore-based artist and some elephants have been showcased in the exhibition.

The artist has rescued and lured the elephants. She later befriended them and then applied colour to their foot pads to create footprints on canvas.

India-born artist Alpana Ahuja, living in Singapore for many years, collaborated with Wildlife SOS, an NGO that works for rescue of animals. The NGO helped her to work closely with the elephants.

The exhibition is open till Sep 19 at Art Spice gallery, Metropolitan Hotel.

The exhibition consists of elephants' pictures painted by Ahuja. There are a few paintings of Lord Ganesha as well. But the main attraction is a series "Padchinha" (footprints) which showcases paintings where Phoolkali and other rescued elephants have imprinted their feet on canvas.

"These elephants don't know that they are earning money for themselves. When their artworks sell, the money will be given to the wildlife organisation for their welfare and upkeep," Babita Gupta, owner of the gallery, told IANS.

But for the artists, it was not easy to lure these animals. A video is screened at the gallery that documents how Ahuja lured Phoolkali with food to befriend her so that she could get her imprints.

These works are priced between Rs.9,000 and Rs.100,000.