The Elephant in the Room

In Yunnan's Wild Elephant Valley, over 20 Asian elephants, a national first-class protected species, were rescued only to endure cruel training for human entertainment. These elephants, known for their remarkable memory and profound emotional capacity, were forced into unnatural performances such as hula hooping, skipping rope, and raising flags—acts that stripped them of their dignity and inflicted both physical and psychological trauma. Shackles, bullhooks, and patented “crushing” techniques left scars on their bodies, serving as undeniable evidence of their suffering.

In collaboration with lawyers and NGOs, we took legal action against Wild Elephant Valley, urging the Yunnan Provincial Higher People's Court to end the performances, compensate the elephants for their long-term trauma, provide rehabilitation, and release eligible elephants back into the wild. The hearing on March 28, 2024, became a pivotal moment in this campaign.

As part of the project, we launched an interactive digital experience to amplify awareness. Viewers could explore a 3D model of a scarred elephant, with each scar clickable to reveal the tools and methods of abuse. During the court hearing, every interaction triggered drones to emit sounds of elephants’ fear, anger, or distress over the courtroom. An AR feature allowed users to place a life-sized elephant in their environment—the “scarred elephant in the room”—a striking reminder of the ignored and denied reality. The public was encouraged to take screenshots and share them online, sparking viral conversations and pressuring the authorities to act. In a society without voting systems, art became a medium for collective action.

The second part of the project was Elephant Song, a viral music and dance video that reimagined the beloved elephant song from the Japanese anime Crayon Shin-chan. While the original tune was playful and nostalgic, the reinterpreted lyrics exposed the harsh realities of elephant training. I collaborated with a contortionist to recreate the unnatural poses forced upon the elephants, highlighting the immense toll such acts take on their bodies. The haunting performance transformed a familiar childhood song into a poignant call for change.

As a result of these efforts, Wild Elephant Valley canceled all elephant performances and shifted its focus to educating the public about elephants and their conservation. The project became a testament to the power of art and collective advocacy, challenging entrenched systems of exploitation and fostering a broader conversation about the rights and dignity of non-human beings. All footage featured in this project was filmed in Wild Elephant Valley, capturing both the beauty and the tragedy of these magnificent creatures.

房间里的大象

云南野象谷救助收容了20多头亚洲象，救助之后，他们用极其残忍的“专利”对它们进行训练，表演各种完全违背天性的动作，如呼啦圈、踢足球、跳大绳、升国旗、选妃与亲吻等。大象具有比人类更强的记忆力，还有深刻的情感能力。因此，它们对自身受到的虐待会感到更加痛苦。人类不是宇宙的中心，也不是地球上唯一有价值的生物，我们有必要将人格给予其他生物，并尊重其固有的生命，从而促进所有生物之间的和平共处。野象谷大规模地奴役大象以供商业使用，忽视并剥夺了大象的基本权利和固有尊严的生活。

打开此链接，你会看到一个大象，那些伤疤是虐待大象的“证据”。脚链、象钩、钉子、摧垮训练，竟然都是被批准的“技术专利”。2024年3月28日上午#亚洲象公益诉讼案开庭期间，每当有人点击这些“伤疤”，大象的害怕、厌烦，或暴怒的声音通过无人机在法院上空鸣响。点击AR模式，你可以将等比大小的大象放在房间里——房间里的“伤痕累累的大象”—— 触目惊心地存在，被忽略、被否定的事实，一如野象谷对大象残忍的训练证据确凿。我们希望云南省高院不会视而不见。请大家截图、录屏，转发在你的房间里的大象，请加上#亚洲象公益诉讼案，实时传递你们对此次公益诉讼案的支持！