'Saraswati' : 24" X 30" Acrylic on Canvas
Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, creativity, art and skills, which are essentially the life force that keeps us going. This is my interpretation of the goddess. She is modern and more human than in her traditional representation. While in traditional paintings, the goddess is seated at the center of a white lotus bloom, here she instead wears a chain of white lotus blooms in her hair. This goddess is depicted to have a slim and captivating figure and the reason for this is manifold- since she is a symbol of knowledge, art and skill, the symbol has to be beautiful in order to express what it symbolizes as something magnificent. Her figure is slim because she represents knowledge rather than carnal revelry, and also because slenderness is part of the modern idea of beauty.
While being modern, it is also at the same time, ancient and deep rooted in tradition, as symbolized by the banyan tree, whose prop roots represent deep rootedness and antiquity. The goddess dons a white saree, just like in the usual theme, manifesting purity and radiance.
My interpretation of Saraswati also depicts the goddess lost in a state of culmination of knowledge. She seems to almost be in the 'Buddha state of consciousness' of divine reverie and detachment from the world she sits in. She is engrossed, perhaps in the music from her glorious Veena?
I have intended this as a philosophical work, through which I wish to ask a question. The modern philosophy is mostly that of the west; it is the philosophy of western scientific thought that emphasizes on knowledge acquisition through observation, experimentation and inference, as opposed to oriental philosophy that stresses on inner awareness through the practice of Yoga and meditation. Art of course, has existed and does exist in all civilizations and all cultures.
My question is: Is enlightenment possible purely through knowledge, skill and art?
I could not have posted this at a better time: Nov 20th is World Philosophy Day !
5 comments:
India and Greece were the only classical civilizations to have goddesses of Knowledge, Art and Creativity. Nice idea for the painting. It was never easy to render hands and limbs on most portraits, good effort.
Beautiful work. Somehow feel it stands apart from the rest of your paintings. I love the face. The mix of tradition and modernity is brought out so well- lose hair; but there's flowers and a bindi. The slim figure adds beauty to it.
(But I was just wondering if it might've been better if the arms and the stem of the veena were a little fatter/ thicker... or I dunno if that was intended)
Although Western Philosophy has not always necessarily stressed on *Scientific* thought, you're right- its different from oriental philosophy which talks of knowledge through self-realization or 'dhyAna'.
If not knowledge, skill or art, do u have something else in mind as a source of enlightenment? I couldn't answer that!
thanks for your comments philramble and Sindhu! :)
Darling! U asked!!
"Is enlightenment possible purely through knowledge, skill and art?"
You could possibly get all yours answers in Gyana Yoga and Karma Yoga of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita!!
So Explore!!
Your idea of modern day saraswati is really very creative and touching!
thank u Sonali, for sharing your thought and your comment! :)
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