Cotton wall hanging, 'Red Elephant'

Four elephants lend wild allure to this vivid wall hanging by Suneeporn Tanjaipetch. The florid motifs are representative of Yao artistry as dynamic symmetry culminates in four-pointed figures. Crafted by hand from 100% Thai cotton the tapestry offers a magnificent accent to the home decor. Its name Chang Pa means wild elephant. The ancestors of the Yao people lived in the Hunan Province of China some 2 000 years ago. Today the Yao live in southern China Vietnam Laos and Thailand. In Thailand there are approximately 55 000 Yao living in scattered villages and an estimated 10 000 from Laos live in refugee camps along the border. They have such unique lifestyles that the various communities are quite different from one another. Nonetheless their villages are usually found on beautiful low hills and in mountainous valleys with dense forests. These areas are teeming with wild animals and are rich in natural resources allowing them to develop a diversified economy. The Yao people have a rich tradition of oral literature. For instance when a group of people is working in the fields several persons sing and beat drums to enliven their labors. Some of the songs tell love stories others tell of Yao history the legends about the creation of heaven and earth etc. The singers also ask questions of each other or tell funny stories adding a joyous atmosphere and synchronizing working movements. The Yao are expert weavers dyers and embroiderers. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) they wove special fabrics made from tree bark and dyed them with grass seeds later becoming experts dyeing with beeswax and indigo. Yao women are renowned for their magnificent cross-stitch embroidery which richly decorates the clothing of every member of their families. The Yao distinguish themselves from other tribal peoples with magnificent attire and jewelry for their silversmiths produce jewelry of the highest quality. As each item is a unique expression of the artisan's creativity there may exist slight variations in the color and pattern.