12 Deities
Recently I completed a commission project to paint 12 deities from all over the world. It is a part of an educational project called Chrysalis project in Auroville, South India.
Nine Births with Mudra
Mudra: Rekha Tandon “Nine Births”
Painting: Jyoti Naoki Eri – Acrylic on canvas 2021 / 153 x 123 cm (51x41cm each)
Music Title: “Six Prisms”
Music: Atomic Phantom
Nine Births
2021 / 153 x 123 cm (51x41cm each)
This work is an attempt to explore the essential geometry in form and number as a bridge of physics and meta-physics.
Each geometrical shape can be seen as a unique matrix of inherent creative force.
Many elements in the geometries are overlapping and shared, yet they are placed in specific order.
I consider these as the simple Mandalas (or a mirror) to explore the world of form and formlessness.
Below is my personal interpretations/introspection.
1) The Birth of One (non-birth)
One is the Existence that embraces the Whole at the same time complementary to Non-Existence. One that is ALL, One that is Zero.
2) The Birth of the Line
Two is the birth of relativity and distance. A line that is also a promise of the existence of Time.
3) The Birth of the Triangle
Three is the birth of depth and height. It also brings balance and harmony (Trinity, Satchidananda).
4) The Birth of the Square
Four is a concrete manifestation. Matter and solidity that is also a promise of constant destruction/disappearance in the world of time & space.
5) The Birth of the Pentagon
Five is a creative power. Body, fingers, flower petals and five fundamental elements were created to explore/manifest the power.
6) The Birth of the Hexagon
Six is the vessel of creation. Like cellular structure, petals, turtles and flower of life they are the symbol of immortality/eternity. It is an essential basis of creative manifestation.
7) The Birth of the Heptagon
Seven is a mysterious number that is unique on its own and remains complementary to the rest of the other numbers/geometrical forms. Seven evokes Sunrise and its reflection on the sea.
8) The Birth of the Octagon
Eight is a completion of a cycle that contains the whole manifested world.
9) The Birth of the Nonagon
Nine is a perfect imperfection in the manifested world. It is a promise to the great perfection.
Cosmic Turtle
Cosmic Egg
Horizons of Infinite Sky
Mahakali (as Vajrayogini)
” […] Mahakali is of another nature.Not of wideness but of height, not wisdom but force and strength are her peculiar power. There is in her a overwhelming intensity, a mighty passion of force to achieve, a divine violence rushing to shatter every limit and obstacle.All her divinity leaps out in a splendour of tempestuous action; she is therefore swiftness, for the immediately effective process, the rapid and direct stroke, the frontal assault that carries everything, before it.Terrible is her face to the Asura, dangerous and ruthless her mood against the haters of the Divine; for she is the Warrior of the Worlds who never shrinks from the battle. Intolerant of imperfection, she deals roughly with all in man that is unwilling and she is severe to all that is obstinately ignorant and obscure; her wrath is immediate and dire against treachery and falsehood and malignity, ill-will is smitten at once by her scourage.Indifference, negligence and sloth in the divine work she cannot bear and she smites awake at once with sharp pain, if need be, the untimely slumberer and the loiterer. The impulses that are swift and straight and frank, the movements that are unreserved and absolute, the aspiration that mounts in flame are the motion of Mahakali.Her spirit is tameless, her vision and will are high and far-reaching like the flight of an eagle, her feet are rapid on the upward way and her hands are outstretched to strike and to succour.For she too is the Mother and her love is as intense as her wrath and she has a deep and passionate kindness. When she is allowed to intervene in her strength , then in one moment are broken like things without consistence the obstacles that immobilise or the enemies that assail the seeker.If her anger is dreadful to the hostile and the vehemence of her pressure painful to the weak and timid, she is loved and worshipped by the great, the strong and the noble; for they feel that her blows beat what is rebellious in their material into strength and perfect truth, hammer straight what is wry and perverse and expel what is impure or defective.But for her what is done in a day might have taken centuries; without her Ananda might be wide and grave or soft and sweet and beautiful but would lose the flaming joy of its most absolute intensities. To knowledge she gives a conquering might, brings to beauty and harmony a high and mounting movement and imparts to the slow and difficult labour after perfection an impetus that multiplies the power and shortens the long way.Nothing can satisfy her that falls short of the supreme ecstasies, the highest heights, the noblest aims, the largest vistas. Therefore with her is the victorious force of the Divine and it is by grace of her fire and passion and speed if he great achievement can be done now than hereafter.”From “The Mother” by Sri Aurobindo
A Pianist – II
The paintings were inspired by the life of the legendary 20th century Canadian pianist Glenn Gould . I see Karma yoga in his dedication to music and Bhakti yoga in his devotion to the masterpieces by J.S. Bach especially in his exceptional piece Goldberg Variations. My attempt in these paintings is to capture the moment of the spark of Gould’s soul both in movement and pensive moment.
“A Pianist – I” for Art for Land exhibition 2021, Auroville
“Vessels – The sky as a mirror – 碧鏡”
2020 / 61x61cm
The sky is a mirror.
The sky is the unlimited love and imagination.
The sky is the sea above the mountains.
The sky is the warmth of your smile.
The sky is the light in your eyes.
The sky is a mirror.
Stars, clouds, rains and snows,
winds and sounds,
are all dancing fires in the sky.
The sky as a mirror.
The sky is a mirror.