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An elephant painting a self-portrait? That's crazy!!

Apr 4, 2008, 01:10 PM | by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Animals, Apropos of Nothing, Viral Video!!!

Sorry to get all Brian Fellow here, but I suspect you will be similarly agog after you see this pachyderm's deft brushwork (below). Okay, so apparently it's just re-creating a specific rudimentary elephant outline that it's been trained to mimic. Whatever! Is that so different from, like, conceptual artist Sol LeWitt's (human) assistants following his detailed instructions to create an installation on their own?

Okay, yeah, maybe it is totally different. But at least the video's not fake, like I assumed at first. And I'm mostly convinced that the YouTube commenter who speculated that "the CIA is breeding superintelligent elephants so soldiers can ride them in battle" is wrong. Probably. Don't you think? 


chuen Thu, May 14, 2009 at 06:10 AM EST

http://www.salepuma.com

luxury watch Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 10:25 PM EST

It's good! rolex watch?
luxury watch?

Geoff Sat, Apr 5, 2008 at 02:16 AM EST

That ain't so great. I could draw at least twice as well as that stupid elephant. Nice flower.

V Sat, Apr 5, 2008 at 02:05 AM EST

The amount its trunk is shaking in trying to hit the mark perfectly makes me worry about the "training" used to get this young elephant to paint so well.

kami Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 03:08 PM EST

yes, it was Hannibal.

Snarf Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 02:19 PM EST

Didn't Hannibal use Elephants in battle? Or am I thinking of the wrong guy?

Emily Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 02:00 PM EST

My parents actually just returned from Thailand with one of these works of art. The painting of a tree is now my mother's most prized possession and easily the highlight of her trip.

Vicky Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 01:45 PM EST

The elephant draws better than I do! I was hoping it'd like sign the painting at the end.

Jelana Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 12:49 PM EST

Lord help me, I would buy that picture.

nathan Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 12:39 PM EST

Brian Fellow would literally crap his pants if he saw that.

mel Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM EST

Ok, so Dumbo can draw. But can he bake a cheese souffle?
I think not.

mel Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 12:36 PM EST

Ok, so Dumbo can draw. But can he bake a cheese souffle?
I think not.

Maggs Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 12:27 PM EST

I saw this video a couple days ago and was amazed! My amazement then turned into sadness because I have trouble drawing stick figures...sigh.


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