New Delhi: Phoolkali, a rescued elephant, is unaware that she is securing her future as works of art created by her are selling well.
About 50 works are on display 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 rescued the elephants, 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 to rescue animals. The NGO helped her to work closely with the elephants.
The exhibition is on until September 19 at Art Spice gallery, Metropolitan Hotel.
The exhibition consists of elephants’ pictures painted by Ahuja. There are a few paintings of the deity Ganesha as well. But the main attraction is a series titled “Padchinha” (footprints), which showcases paintings in which Phoolkali and other rescued elephants have imprinted their feet on canvas.
“These elephants don’t know that they are earning money for themselves,” said Babita Gupta, owner of the gallery.
“When their works sell, the money will be given to the wildlife organisation for their welfare and upkeep,” she said.
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.
The works are priced between Rs9,000 and Rs100,000.
IANS
