Brent Lewin The Elephant In The Room

The Elephant In The Room is a series of photographs by Lewin revealing the plight of the elephant in Thailand. As revered symbols of Thailand’s glorified past, elephants today are represented as cultural icons and used in the commercial branding of countless products. But for all the representations of elephants as symbols of strength, dignity and prosperity, the only real elephants seen in Bangkok are those being led by their mahouts, wandering the congested streets begging. Although it’s illegal to bring elephants into Bangkok, most police, politicians and citizens continue to turn a blind eye to the urban elephants, failing to address the underlying issues and allowing the situation to remain The Elephant in the Room.

Curated by Steven Schwartz