In Harmony: The Symbolism of Asian Elephants in My New Artwork
The meaning behind my drawing titled, 'In Harmony'.
Time took to reach completion: 1 month
Size: (50 x 70 cm) 19.7" x 27.6"
The Elephant in Thai and Laotian Culture
Asian elephants hold a sacred position in Thai and Laotian culture, symbolizing strength, wisdom, and peace; they are treated in high regard and are very respected in these cultures as a Tai-Dai person.
The first ancient Tai-Lao kingdom, taking up modern-day Laos and Northeastern Thailand was established in 1353 by Fa Ngum, named "Lan Xang" which translates to the "Kingdom of a Million Elephants ອານາຈັກລ້ານຊ້າງ"; it was one of the most biggest and influential kingdoms in all of Southeast Asia. Many Lao kingdoms had a flag represented by 3 white elephants under a parasol (ລ້ານຊ້າງຮົ່ມຂາວ) or with a White elephant as a symbol. And in Thailand, the elephant is known as the national animal. The artwork titled 'In Harmony' represents this deep cultural significance through the depiction of a young Laotian girl petting an elephant amidst a jungle set in either Laos or Isaan (Northeastern) Thailand, where the kingdom Lan Xang used to take place.
'Lan Na อาณาจักรล้านนา' - Tai-Yuan Kingdom (Land of a Million Rice Fields)
'Lan Xang ອານາຈັກລ້ານຊ້າງ' - Tai-Lao Kingdom (Land of a Million Elephants)
'Sukhothai อาณาจักรสุโขทัย' - Siamese Kingdom
'Ayutthaya อาณาจักรอยุธยา' - Mon-Siamese Kingdom
'Đại Việt' - Kinh Vietnamese Kingdom
'Champa' - Champ Kingdom
'Imperio Jemer'/ Khmer Empire ចក្រភពខ្មែរ - Cambodian Khmer Empire
Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash
'In Harmony' Artwork by Me in Soft Pastel (Tasanee P ทัศนีย์ พี, AKA Andarsia)
FUN FACT: The reason as for why Lan Na and Lan Xang sound similar, as well as having 'Tai' for their ethnicities is due to the Tai-Yuan (Northern Thai) and Tai-Lao (Isaan Thai and Lao) people both descending from the Tai/Dai tribes who were pushed out of China due to Han Chinese expansion and Mongolian conquests from about 1200-800 years ago, while some stayed (such as the Tai-Lue of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan China). They both speak the Southwestern Tai languages, which are mutually intelligible and share some of the same vocabulary. While these Tai people displaced the original Mon-Khmer people who later assimilated, which is why Tai languages such as Lao/Isaan, Central Thai, and Northern Thai are spoken in both Laos and Thailand, they had also adopted many aspects of Khmer and Mon culture despite coming straight out of East Asia. Other Tai peoples include but are not limited to the Zhuang of Guangxi China, Bouyei, Tai-Dam, and Tai Nua.
The Threats Faced by Asian Elephants
Elephants have quite an esteemed status, however, Asian elephants are currently facing a severe issue of endangerment, with only about an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 left in the wild. Acts such as poaching (the illegal hunting or capture of wild animals), habitat fragmentation (the process of disconnecting large areas of habitat into smaller pieces), habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts are the main causes of this issue and significantly threaten their existence.
Despite being so culturally significant in the Indosphere (region of Indian influence) including Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, elephants are unfortunately exploited and have to go through a cruel "breaking" or domestication process in order to be disciplined to humans; many of the elephants that are ridden for tourism, elephant art, and other elephant activities unfortunately have to go through this terrible process. This disturbing reality raises awareness about wildlife conservation, which is a major theme represented through my artwork. The elephant’s portrayal serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect not only these gentle giants, but also wildlife as whole, urging viewers to reflect on their responsibilities to help contribute towards wildlife preservation.
A Message of Coexistence
In my piece titled 'In Harmony', the girl represents humanity; Her gentle interaction with the elephant serves as a metaphor for coexistence. Various animals watching silently afar from the scene signify the diverse wildlife that share the same habitat and the animals in a state of peace.
"My artwork done in soft pastel, titled 'In Harmony' depicts a Laotian girl petting an elephant, symbolizing harmony between humans (the girl) and wildlife (the elephant and other animals). The elephant is culturally sacred and held highly in Thailand and Laos, yet unfortunately, many are endangered due to poaching, habitat fragmentation, habitat loss, conflict with humans, and face exploitation for tourism and parades. Moreover, the appearance of the elephant in the artwork symbolizes how people should treat our limited wildlife in the same manner akin to the elephant in Tai cultures; carefully in regard and more kindly since many wildlife species such as the Asian Elephant are endangered, decreasing in population by each day. The artwork encourages people to preserve wildlife and nature, supporting those affected by wild animals and respecting their limited habitats. The message is to live harmoniously with wildlife and avoid unnecessary harsh treatment of them, because they are undomesticated; many aren't meant to be, and they are trying to survive just like us humans." - Tasanee
Photo references used to draw the animals were taken by Emmanuel Keller with granted permission: https://www.flickr.com/people/tambako