יש לענות על כל השאלות בדף העבודה. עבודה נעימה.
An exhibition by three unusual Canadian artists opened yesterday in the city of Bristol,
England. The painters, who are known simply as Billy, Tom and Toby, won't be
offended if critics sneer, "That's art? My dog could have done it!" While the artists are
not dogs, they are animals – more precisely, chimpanzees, and they've been painting
for several years now.
Billy, Tom and Toby are three of the 12 chimps that live in a sanctuary near Montreal,
Canada, which provides a secure home for old chimps whose lives were spent
in research labs or circuses. "The animals arrived depressed and frightened," says
sanctuary director Ellen Barkin. "We thought a painting project might help improve
their mood a little." The results took everyone by surprise. Some of the chimps needed
only a brief introduction before picking up a paintbrush on their own. Others were less
keen at first, but when encouraged by staff members they soon joined in. Now they all
turn eagerly to their art equipment at every opportunity.
According to Ms Barkin, each of the chimps has a distinctive way of working. Billy,
for example, prefers various shades of blue and takes his time applying the paint to
the canvas. Toby tends to paint quickly with an obvious sense of delight, and Tom, the
oldest of the group, displays a clear preference for dark colors and large canvases. "We
found that the paintings of these three particularly appealed to our visitors," says
Ms Barkin. "That's why we decided to send them overseas."
The Bristol exhibition is meant to do more than simply entertain. All the income from
the sale of paintings will go toward expanding the Montreal sanctuary and improving
its facilities. The same fund-raising strategy has been used before. An exhibition held
in Canada last year was a huge success, with 13 of the 15 chimp paintings selling in
the first week. The organizers of the Bristol show are hoping for similar results. Says
Peter Beller, the exhibition curator, "These chimps have been used their whole lives
for our benefit. Now it's time to do something for them."
(Adapted from "Is that art? A chimp could have painted it,"
The Observer, September 26, 2004)