International   

Painted elephant as art exhibit cleaned

Los Angeles animal services intervenes in `Barely Legal' show

LOS ANGELES: An elephant that was elaborately spray-painted for a California art exhibit, which caused an uproar among animal activists, was washed by order of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.

The 38-year-old female elephant, named Tai, was given a non-toxic paint job for last week's opening of the `Barely Legal' exhibition by British artist Banksy. The elephant was painted in the same red and gold pattern as the exhibit's walls, and it was placed in a living room that included furniture.

Cards handed out at the opening, which included such guests as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, read: "There's an elephant in the room. There's a problem we never talk about." The statement went on to say that many people live below the poverty line.

The head of the city's Animal Services Department ordered that the elephant be completely scrubbed down to bare skin and that a child-safe face paint be used. "The paint they had been using, although non-toxic, according to government regulations was unsafe and even illegal to use the way they had been using it," he said. On Sunday, Tai was placed unpainted in the living room exhibit.

"Well, it's better than being painted," said Bill Dyer from In Defence of Animals, who objected to the use of the animal in the exhibit.

The official said he issued written orders about the paint after consulting with two other animal rights activists and the city attorney's office. He then told the owners of Have Trunk Will Travel, the Perris-based company that provided the elephant, that the paint would have to be removed.

Animal control officers and the elephant's handlers have monitored Tai's welfare. It was regularly fed and given water. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Chirac prefers talks to sanctions on Iran
11 Muslim civilians killed in Sri Lanka
Painted elephant as art exhibit cleaned
Global rally for Darfur peace
World Bank to push good governance
Iran, Venezuela to deepen relations
Trash as souvenir
Neo-Nazis win seats
Persson voted out
India sees a `risk' in World Bank's strategy
IMF approves reform plan
Pakistan papers want result on substantive issues

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu