This painting was inspired by a story I heard of a Sikh in the US who had been imprisoned on trumped up suspected terrorism charges, basically a case of racial profiling, and was badly mistreated. He talked of getting through the ordeal by applying the sikh concept of 'chardi kala' which effectively translates to relentless optimism. This elephant is my interpretation of that concept - an elephant trudging forward relentlessly, despite the heavy load of rocks on his back. 

After the US election outcome of November 2016 I was having trouble processing what that meant for the world and what it meant to me. 'Chardi Kala' was my response - that despite the heavyness I felt, and the sense of a lot weighing people down around the world ,despite that the only way forward was with optimism and hope. 'Chardi Kala'

Many of my paintings such as this one are also inspired by my own early childhood in Papua New Guinea, and my travels to places such as India.

The painting is painted with a combination of different acrylic paints with different qualities, including Jo Sonja art paints, Golden Paints and Atelier interactive paints.

You will receive the painting with D hook and wire hanger on the back. The painting will be packed with cardboard corners in a reinforced cardboard flat package with bubble wrap to protect it.

his painting can be sold 'on the stretcher and ready to hang' or 'rolled in a tube'. The postage and painting cost is less for a tube, but obviously is not ready to hang and will require stretching /framing when you receive it.  Contact me for details if you require more details about purchase options.