I grew up in Phoenix, spitting distance away from the Phoenix Zoo. There, we had Ruby - who, if my mother is to be believed, once did a painting based on my big brother's sneakers. Her work, though, was all very abstract - still amazing, but abstract.
This? This is possibly the most amazing thing I have ever. seen. I am not even kidding about this.
I may be a little insane here, but if an elephant a) painting an elephant b) holding a flower and c) going back over the lines with very precise movements to make sure they're all dark enough to be clearly visible isn't a sign of some degree of self-awareness, I don't know what the hell is.
It's been shown that elephants, along with dolphins and great apes have self-awareness. They can also understand human verbal commands the way that dogs can.
Jeez, I couldn't have drawn an elephant half as well. It's incredibly precise work. I'm in awe.
I know, right? I showed this to my mom and she was literally crying, she was so astonished. Bright point of my day. It almost looks like a cave painting, doesn't it?
There are so many art concepts in this, even in abstracted art too, that it's hard to get your head around anything other than a human doing it. That whole 'Humans are unique and different' thing, with tools, art (and concepts of visual communication, representation etc.), language and self awareness, just gets more and more squashed all the time.
If the quality of the image wasn't enough, the fact the elephant was sort of a perfectionist with the lines and corners and the end bit with the trunk... Just WOW.
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malionette
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Date: 2008-03-31 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 04:23 am (UTC)I grew up in Phoenix, spitting distance away from the Phoenix Zoo. There, we had Ruby - who, if my mother is to be believed, once did a painting based on my big brother's sneakers. Her work, though, was all very abstract - still amazing, but abstract.
This? This is possibly the most amazing thing I have ever. seen. I am not even kidding about this.
I may be a little insane here, but if an elephant a) painting an elephant b) holding a flower and c) going back over the lines with very precise movements to make sure they're all dark enough to be clearly visible isn't a sign of some degree of self-awareness, I don't know what the hell is.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 04:26 am (UTC)Jeez, I couldn't have drawn an elephant half as well. It's incredibly precise work. I'm in awe.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 04:30 am (UTC)I know, right? I showed this to my mom and she was literally crying, she was so astonished. Bright point of my day. It almost looks like a cave painting, doesn't it?
no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 05:19 am (UTC)That whole 'Humans are unique and different' thing, with tools, art (and concepts of visual communication, representation etc.), language and self awareness, just gets more and more squashed all the time.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-31 09:50 pm (UTC)If the quality of the image wasn't enough, the fact the elephant was sort of a perfectionist with the lines and corners and the end bit with the trunk... Just WOW.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
no subject
Date: 2008-04-01 04:15 pm (UTC)