Reaching under the Pylons Print

I animate therefore I am a teacher I teach therefore I am an illustrator I illustrate therefore I reflect my environment In reflecting my environment I am animated. Trunkated Tales, Millie's most recent exhibition had 30 new works and 30 selected retrospective works from the 15 years research and painting of Thailand’s captive elephants covering elephant encounters at Elephant Nature Park, The Thai Elephant Conservation Center and the Ayutthaya Royal Elephant Kraal. They are her personal perspective and each image is drawn from observations of the elephants. It is a privilege and a pleasure to get to know these amazing creatures and Millie is indebted to those who work hard to care for them. During these 15 years significant numbers of these elephants present in her work have passed away their lives a testimony of the complexity of issues in the Human Elephant Conflict. The exhibition is a celebration of the elephant, exploring this topic by focussing on issues of our impact on their lives, paintings that juxtapose our presence in their world. The acrylic layered paintings play with light and shadow, often using gold to add an uncanny life in the paintings which change moods as daylight changes From a rogue elephant running toward a STOP sign through a wide vista of paddy fields where a lone tree remains the only reminder that this was once forest; to near invisible mahouts on gaudily dressed ride elephants with signs saying ‘No Entry’ held together with string; seeing them in their working lives, with their mahouts struggling to earn their keep; to seemingly wild elephants juxtaposed by our Human encroachment in the forms of road signs, electricity poles, pastoral land uses, city pollution and garbage. The aim is to create dialogue around the issues not dictate simplistic answers or demonstrate over dramatic emotive vignettes in an attempt to shock people. The hope is that the audience will admire the beauty of these animals but question their situation. Mille came to Thailand in 2000 to research for an new animation. Her investigation, drawing and painting the elephants over the years has been exhibited frequently in the Brighton Fringe Festiva. In 2004 she had a one woman and six elephants ‘Chang, Clang, Swish, Bang!’ exhibition at The Booth Natural History Museum.