Art

Item Description

This 'Padchinh' is an original footprint of Suraj, a rescued temple elephant at the Wildlife SOS, Elephant Conservation and Care Center in India. 

About the artist:

Alpana Ahuja, artist and illustrator of 20 children's books, all published in Singapore, also regularly exhibits her art in group shows in Singapore. Two solo shows in 2014, both titled ‘Ganpati to Gajah’ were aimed to raise awareness on the plight of captive elephants in India. Proceeds were donated to Wildlife SOS India, for their rescued elephants.

A unique series of paintings titled ‘Padhchinh’ were created in 2013 by Alpana and the Wildlife SOS team, by taking the rescued elephants footprints on canvas. These paintings continue to raise funds for the rescued elephants at Wildlife SOS india. 

A long association with ACRES, Singapore, Alpana is involved in education, fundraising, wildlife rescue, and is Vice President on the board for ACRES.

Alpana runs an ‘Animal Lovers Club’ at a leading international school in Singapore, where children are taught many aspects of Animal Concerns. 

THE PADHCHINH STORY

The 'Padhchinh' paintings are a unique piece of art, born of the collaboration of Alpana Ahuja and the rescued elephants at Wildlife SOS in 2014, as part of the artists' efforts to support the elephant community. Translating into 'footprint' in Sanskrit, it symbolizes the elephants' march towards a better future. Leaving behind their chains and abused pasts, the elephants forge new friendships and bask in the love and care they are showered with at the Wildlife SOS' Elephant Care and Conservation Centre (ECCC) at Mathura, India. 100% of proceeds from this series go to the Wildlife SOS ECCC.

The first Padhchinhs were created by Elephant Phoolkali. Each footprint was taken with tremendous patience, subject entirely to Phoolkali's decision to participate in the process, largely influenced by bananas and other treats! She continues to be a very patient and cooperative elephant, but is sometimes moody and trumpets for her best friend Maya to join her, who is quick to respond and obeys. Their mahout, Asim oversees the creation of each Padhchinh, signaling for breaks for the elephants to bond over their treats.

Baby elephant, Peanut is another volunteer Alpana has worked with. A curious and enthusiastic participant, Peanut is a jumpy one, sometimes creating multiple footprints on a single canvas. Her artistic ability also translates into the playful whips she throws on her mahout, Gulzaar and the artist, with her tail. One lucky canvas even has a mark of her tail 'whipping' across it. Some other Padhchinhs have bits of grass or leaves embedded in them, on some very special occasions - elephant poop (yes!). The artist tries to preserve these bits of nature as they are an integral part of the elephants environment. Each piece is a unique burst of hues and the varying pressure of the elephants foot on canvas creates patterns of colour that cannot be recreated with a brush. The process involves a preparation of backgrounds on canvas and is foregrounded by the elephant footprints. It ends off with a scrubbing of the elephants foot, so as to remove every bit of paint applied. 

The purchase of this item can feed Suraj for two weeks!

Item Special Note

Medium- Acrylic on canvas
Elephant Suraj with artist Alpana Ahuja

yellow base with green/gold
Size-28" X 28"
Year- March 2017
Majestic tusker Suraj gives us his first few footprints. The tallest of our male elephants, Suraj is a gentleman!

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