io9: apes

Portraits From the Steampunk Planet of the Apes

Lauren Davis — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:30:00 PDT

Chet Phillips imagines an alternate Victorian Era that's not only filled with rayguns and steam-powered contraptions, but also shows that technology being operated by furry-faced monkeys.

Phillips' series "Steampunk Monkey Nation" is available on Etsy for $18 a print, or $8 for the entire pack of collectible cards, each containing the respective monkey's bombastic name, favored technologies, and backstory. Phillips also has a second simian series, "World War Monkey."

[Chet Phillips' Etsy via Drawn!]

Xander Tiberius Crushington
Thaddeus J. Malarky
Hester Farklebot
Enrique Crimsonpoole
Eduardo Blacklard
Bertram Vendetta
Obediah Krinklenut
Phineas H. Flabbergast
Theodosia B. Smirch
Sebastian Cluttermuck
Gregor Bravadoclod
Parthenia R. Poppycog
Ezekiel M. Nightshade
Henrich Waddlerot
Horatio Sprocketnotch
Zebulon T. Viperfang
Hans Von Grubmunch
Edwina Hornswoggler
Meriwether Ironcrumpet
Archibald T. Gasketlatch

Orangutans and Bonobos Make Art for Charity

Lauren Davis — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

Panbanisha is a prolific painter whose works have sold for hundreds of dollars. She also happens to be a bonobo, one of many apes learning language skills at the Great Ape Trust. To raise money for ape conservation work, the Trust is auctioning off paintings created by Panbanisha and the other ape artists-in-residence. Click through to see a gallery of primate paintings and watch the bonobo’s creative process.

Researchers study apes living at the Trust to learn more about their intellect, behavior, and capacity for communication. Bonobo siblings Panbanisha and Kanzi have a rather advanced capacity for language, able to understand human speech, comprehend abstract concepts, and communicate with humans through a lexigram keyboard. Apes are given the choice as to whether to participate in activities like painting, but the researchers have found that the apes perceive the experience as fulfilling, allowing them to convey thoughts, senses, and memories without the limitations of verbal language.

“The apes’ daily lives are enriched immeasurably by these creative opportunities,” [project overseer Peter] Clay said. “Choosing canvases and colors, and choosing to make small, careful marks or big dramatic ones, these are all within their control.

In the Apes Helping Apes project, the Trust sells the apes’ painting, some created in collaboration with artist Sue Buck, to support ape conservation in the wild. The above painting by Panbanisha is currently up for auction online.

[Great Ape Trust via New Scientist]

The Only Minute Of Burton's Apes You Need To See

charliejane — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:30:22 PST

The best parts of Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake are like a simian version of 300 . The giant ape army looks totally badass, and the "running apes" special effect still looks cutting-edge. Few films since then have used CGI to create such a convincing non-human society. And the explosion, with the apes raining from the sky, is priceless. Too bad the rest of 2001's POTA was so boring we ended up grooming ourselves for long stretches.