Sunday, 17 July 2016
Monday, 11 April 2016
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Happy Dussehra
Happy Dussehra
This Ravan was the collective creation of 5 kids ranging from 5-7 yrs made in Purple Streak's art classes
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Jean Arp The Biomorphist
Birth anniversary of
Jean
Arp
(given name Hans Arp)
French Artist: sculptor, painter,
collagist, printmaker, constructivist
16 Sept 1886 born in Germany; d.
1966
Movements: Abstraction, Dada,
Surrealism, Constructivism, Biomorphism
Jean Arp Human Concretion
1935, plaster, 49.5 x 47.6 x
64.7 cm. MOMA
Jean Arp was born in Germany to a German
father and French mother. He studied and worked in France, Germany and
Switzerland. He was one of the founders
of the Dada movement in Zurich in a group that included Marcel Janco, Tristan
Tzara, and others. The Cabaret Voltaire which opened in 1916 became the center
of Dada activities for this group.
In the 1920s Jean Arp painted wooden
wall relief and by the 1930s he shifted to making sculptures in the round, in
wood and plaster, the initial forms being human torsos. Gradually he gravitated
towards biomorphic forms originating from concepts of metamorphosis and growth.
Amoebic, rounded forms demonstrated fluidity and ambiguity
An interesting oeuvre was a series
of small works which encouraged interaction by the viewers, whereby they could
separate and rearrange the formations to their liking.
Jean Arp in his studio 1950s. Photo by Ida Kar
Jean Arp Forest
1916, painted wood
relief. 32.7 x 19.7 x 7.6 cm. National Gallery of Art, Washington
Jean Arp Head
and Shell (Tête
et coquille)
ca. 1933. Polished
brass, 19.7 x 22.5 cm. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation,
Peggy Guggenheim
Collection
Jean Arp Growth
1938. Marble, 80.3 cm
high. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Jean Arp The Navel Bottle (Die Nabelflasche)
plate 4 from portfolio of seven
lithographs. Edition of 50, 1923
composition (irreg.): 41.6 x
24.8 cm; sheet: 45.1 x 34.9 cm.
Publisher: Merzverlag(Kurt Schwitters),
Hannover, Germany. Printer: A. Molling &
Comp., Hannover, Germany probably. Edition of 50. MOMA
Monday, 15 September 2014
A wonderful viewpoint by Yukiko Murano
on Japanese Belief– Is it religion, is it atheism.
Sharing a shortened version
Yukiko Murano is a Tea Teacher, Head
of the International Team of Japanese Tea Ceremony Omotesenke Way in Tokyo
Japanese live and feel with Nature. Nature are full of Spirits in Japan. 八百万の神 this is a metaphorical number of countless deities in Japanese soil. Mountains, Snow, volcano, Onsen, hot springs, Ocean, lakes, marshes, rivers, waterfalls, even wind, rain, typhoon, fog, big trees...everything are Spirits in Japan. We worship nature. The translation 'God' seems originally inappropriate, as the unique recognition 'Kami' which is right, but then may be 'Dou' is more right to explain our belief or behavior. Shintou神(道(tou-dou) is not 神(教(kyou-religion) after all. Not Allah nor God, but Kami. There is awe for the Invisibleness. Dou is the invisible restrictions and affirmations based on the individual moral criteria. Through timeless endeavour and study and research teachers of Dou teach people each of the Dou Ways. Like in fighting, mentors for Judou, Kendou, Aikidou and Sumo were needed, and in ordinary life- Flower Dou, Chadou, Kodo, Shodo. And may be how to love people 'Dou' based on moral way, which may be too traditional but not unfair. Teachers in Japan are like doyens. People pay respect to teachers. How to be a desirable individual and harmonize with others in the society. The basic answer is always in Nature. Not in Koran nor Bible.
Agricultural life-style and the constant repetition of the natural four seasons including natural disasters bring to the Japanese a stable belief that nature overwhelms, gifts and blesses, creates tragedy and sorrow. Earthquake and tsunami, typhoon and flood devour living things, but we see it as natural deeds, and try not to conquer them but try to co-exist and manage. No bible or Koran but based on the Classic forklore 'Kojiki'古事記、the mythical fable, that we believe our nation derives from. This is a reason we call ourselves: Non-God people, Atheists. But every one of us believes in natural Awe and behaves as Dou guides us.
Through the Historical coalescence, Shinto and Buddhism were together, 神仏習合 in Japan until Samurai Epoch. Then we do have Zen Temples where No Buddhist Statues are existing (some are), but priests guide people toward 'Zen' and 'Dou' mind. If you feel like questioning through the self-discipline, what is the 'Truth' of our being and how we can live our life in a right way. More philosophical than religious.
Images added by blogger of Ise Shinto Shrine (above), Ryoan-ji Zen dry-landscape garden (below)
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