One Million Giraffes

I just found out about this great project today and had to share it.  It’s certainly ambitious but I don’t think it’s impossible.

Ola Helland is a guy from Norway who is trying to collect one million images of “hand made” giraffes by 2011.  Besides a bet with a friend, he’s got a deeper reason for this project.

Ola says:

“The giraffes cannot be drawn on a computer since the whole point of this project is to give the digital world a break and let humans be humans for just a little while.  People spend too much time in front of their TVs and computers.  It’s time to create something with your hands!  Something you can feel, touch and hold!  I don’t care how you make your giraffe(s) as long as it’s not on a computer.  Try being old fashioned for once, it’s actually a lot of fun.”

“Getting one million giraffes in such a short timeframe is impossible.  Or is it?  That’s what I’m trying to find out.  Yes,  I know it means that I need about one giraffe a minute.  And that I’m not even close to making it at this pace.  But at this point it really doesn’t matter if I make it to a million.  It would be mindblowingly cool if I did, but consider this for a second: There are people all over the world drawing giraffes right now.  Isn’t that cool?  I think it’s really, really cool.  I think it’s very interesting to see how many giraffes I will get, but it’s even more interesting and fun just to sit back and look at all the amazing giraffes that are pouring in.  Have you looked in the gallery?  There’s some really amazing stuff in there.  So.  If you think this is only about reaching a million you’ve kinda missed the point of the project.  It doesn’t matter if I make to a million.  I really, really want to and I’m still working towards that goal, but at this point it’s just fun to see people all over the world turning off their TVs, putting their computers away and sitting down and drawing giraffes.  Old school style.  People spend too much time being digital.  They should be analog, being human, creating something real (not 0’s and 1’s) for a change.  Most people love it when they try it.”

Here’s my giraffe (the image links to Ola’s website so you can see how your giraffe would look in situ):

You can upload yours to Ola’s website, browse all the other giraffes or find out more at the following address: http://olahelland.net/giraffes/

Go on, draw a picture and help Ola out…you know you want to!

2 Comments

• 

  By Dasha, 6 July, 2009 @ 10:56 am

  Hi Alasdair!
  Just thought l’d let you know that l came across the completely enchanting “One Million Giraffes” project in one of your blogs in Paper Mache -will be sending a giraffe soon! BTW love your work(and Jolenes)too!
  Regards,
  Dasha
  Sydney, Australia

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1. MadeStuff » another “One Million Giraffes” — 22 July, 2009 @ 11:59 am

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