Fireflies Art Village
Fireflies has always emphasized the importance of art in creating convivial societies. The Art Village today includes a sculptor unit in granite and copper. It also has a weaving unit, which is attempting to train a group of poor village women. A pottery training unit also functions. The art village has a strong social and ecological emphasis.
GRANITE SCULPTURES:
Designed by Caroline Mackenzie, carved in collaboration with shilpis (sculptors) T.N. Muniyandi, M.Elumalai and assistant P.Elango with Mahesh for final finishing.
THE BIRTH OF THE DIVINE GIRL
Granite - 6' x 3' 7" x 3', on plinth 1' 3" x 3' 7" x 4' 4", 2004-5
The composition comprises five figures. At the centre the birth of a girl is being celebrated. To the left and right her father and mother welcome her. Above is the Bird Man with protective wings outstretched. Below the Earth Woman is receiving the child.
The image can be understood in many different ways. It can be viewed as a mandala where opposites are united. It suggests the realisation of the Self where masculine and feminine, heaven and earth are integrated. The girl child could be seen as being born from the rock. In this context the man and woman represent people who are receiving a new sense of the consciousness of the earth. It also expresses the experience of the sculptor who releases the image hidden in the rock.
LION LADY
Granite - 3' 5" x 2' 5" x 2' 2", 2004-5
This image has arisen from two particular experiences of the artist. The first was a six year stay in Melkote in order to study Sri Vaishnava spirituality and the philosophy of Visistadvaita. One of the main deities at Melkote is Sri Yoganarasimha, the Man Lion incarnation of Vishnu. The reverence for this deity made a strong impression on the artist.
The second experience was of Jungian psychotherapy in U.K. Jung believed that some of the most creative aspects of the personality lay in the "shadow". By this he meant areas that were rejected by the conscious mind. Psychotherapy helps the person to discover and name her or his shadow in all its ambivalence. This releases the creative energy hidden there. The Lion Lady is an embodiment of the artist's shadow that has been made conscious and now becomes a source of renewal and creativity.
Previous page: Fireflies Intercultural Centre
Next page: Our publications