Why do elephants paint?

by Windy BormanMay 22, 2009Eyes of Thailand, Notes from the Director0 comments

Usually when I mention I’m producing “The Eyes of Thailand”, a documentary on the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital, someone in the group asks, “Is that near where they have the painting elephants?”, obviously referencing the painting elephant video they saw on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7Ge7Sogrk

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The answer is, yes, the FAE Elephant Hospital is near a conservation center that has painting elephants, but this brings up interesting questions I feel we should discuss, such as “why do elephants paint?”, “should humans sell their paintings to help cover the costs of caring for the animal?”, and “is this just another way to exploit an already endangered animal for financial gain?”

In May 2008, Francisco Vara-Orta wrote “Animals as Artists” for the LA Times’s L.A. Unleashed. His article sheds some light on the issue: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/05/a-muse-zoo-um-o.html

Photo: Morry Gash/Associated Press

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Written by Windy Borman

Windy Borman is a documentary filmmaker, Narrative Architect, and founder of WB Consulting LLC. After 25+ years on both sides of the camera and the stage — producing films that premiered at Sundance and HBO, interviewing Sir Richard Branson and Governor Gavin Newsom, and directing Ashley Judd's voiceover work — she created the B.R.A.V.E. Framework™: the narrative architecture system that gets the real version of female and non-binary executives from the Green Room to the mic. She works with executives and leaders who are done being the best-kept secret in their industry.