In 2015, Rudolf was asked to participate in the Bangkok Elephant Parade (an initiative supporting elephant protection). He painted a 160 cm high Fiberglas elephant model in his particular way and called the work “Whitegold”.
THE NAME “WHITEGOLD“ WAS NOT A REFERENCE TO THE COLOURS USED:
- THE BLACK COLOUR REFLECTS THE ENORMOUS WEIGHT OF THE ELEPHANT’S MASSIVE BODY;
- THE GOLD COLOUR REFERS TO THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THESE RARE ANIMALS.
THE NAME “WHITEGOLD“ WAS USED BY RUDOLF AS A REFERENCE TO THE POPULAR SAYING THAT SOMEONE BEHAVES LIKE AN ELEPHANT “BULL IN A CHINA SHOP“WHEN BEHAVING CLUMSILY.
IN THE PAST, CHINA (ANOTHER NAME FOR PORCELAIN) WAS SOMETHING EXTREMELY PRECIOUS. WHEN THE SAXONIAN KING “AUGUST THE STRONG“ (1670-1733) COMMISSIONED HIS ALCHIMISTS TO INVENT A FORMULA FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL GOLD AND THE SURPRISE RESULT WAS NOT GOLD BUT CHINA, PORCELAIN WAS CALLED “WHITEGOLD“.
DIFFERENT TO THE ASSUMPTION IN THE SAYING THAT ELEPHANTS ARE CLUMSY, “WHITEGOLD“ AND HIS FELLOW ELEPHANTS ARE SENSITIVE AND CAREFUL ANIMALS. THEY WOULD RATHER TRY TO AVOID BREAKING THE FRAGILE CHINA THAN TRAMPLING ON IT. THAT IS THE REASON WHY RUDOLF IN HIS VISION SHOWS “WHITEGOLD“ AS WALKING THROUGH A MOUNTAIN OF CHINA (WHICH IS DISPLAYED AT HIS FOUR FEET).
WHILST WALKING,“WHITEGOLD“, THROUGH ITS MAGICAL EYES, IS WATCHING US HUMANS. WHAT IT SEES ARE “THE GOOD“ AND “THE BAD“ SYMBOLIZED BY A LAVISH COLLECTION OF FACES OF “GOOD” AND “BAD” PEOPLE COVERING “WHITEGOLD’S“ WHOLE FOREHEAD AND HIS SHOULDERS.
“WHITEGOLD’S“ TRUNK IS DECORATED WITH AN IMAGE OF GANESHA, THE REMOVER OFOBSTACLES, THE PATRON OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AND THE DEVA OFINTELLECT AND WISDOM.
IN CONTRAST, EVIL HUNTERS WITH THEIR HEAVY GUNS APPEAR IN “WHITEGOLD’S“ LEFT EAR, SYMBOLIZING THAT IN THE VERY MOMENT THE ELEPHANT WILL HEAR THE SHARP NOISE OF THE HUNTER’S DEADLY SHOT, IT WILL ALREADY BEEN FATALLY HIT (THE BAD). “WHITEGOLD’S“ RIGHT EAR SHOWS A VARIATION OF A KIND OF OPTICAL LENSES. THEY SYMBOLIZE THE WAY IN FOR INFORMATION INTO THE ELEPHANT’S HUGE AND HIGHLY CAPABLE BRAIN (THE GOOD).
THE TAIL IS PAINTED AS A BROKEN CHAIN WHICH “WHITEGOLD“ IS PROUDLY CARRYING AWAY WITH ITS TRUNK.
THIS IS A SYMBOL FOR “WHITEGOLD’S“ FREEDOM BY WALKING INTO THE PEACEFUL WORLD OF CO-EXISTENCE, WHICH THE “ELEPHANT PARADE“ IS ENVISAGING FOR ELEPHANTS WHEREVER THEY LIVE.
www.mynewsdesk.com/elephant-parade/…/have-you-herd-anantara-s-elephant-parade…
