Activity #7 Write About it

There are hundreds of cultures and ethnic religions in this world, all of which have their share of Gods and Goddesses. In this exhibition you will have the opportunity to view several paintings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. At the first glace you will notice that all of the paintings incorporate a halo or light that surrounds the God or Goddess, illuminating them and portraying them as a supreme being. The theme of the paintings in the exhibition is the Sacred Realm. All of the paintings were created using the Harish Johari Wash Painting Technique. With this technique special consideration to how the face, hands, feet and posture of the being are vital. “Hand gestures have their own symbolism and language and are used as a way to express emotion.” Many design principles and techniques are used to illustrate these paintings.

The first painting entitle “Shiva and Shakti in the Brain” was painted by Heidi Rauhut in 1984. In this painting the two Gods are joined at the head. The two heads creates a mass in the shape of a brain. The mass is surrounded by a shining light, illuminating their glory. Complementary colors of light blue and light orange create a since of tranquility within the painting. The symmetrical balance of the conjoined heads is not just a coincidence. “The right hemisphere of the brain is represented by Shakti and the left side by Shiva, the female and the male principle, synonymous of the rational and emotional aspects of human consciousness.”

Like the painting of Shiva and Shakti, the second painting “The people Bathe in Gonga” by Pieter Weltervede in 1996 creates a since of tranquilty. Illuminating skies and the use of cool colors and monochromatic harmonies of blue dominate the painting. The river itself is sacred and provides a mean of salvation to the masses of people that congregate along the rivers shore. The Receding landscape and river indicate an atmospheric perspective. Gonga is a Hindu God who was created in the form of a river where humans can bathe in order to become purified.

The remainder of the paintings in the exhibition were created by Pieter Welterved between 1998-2002. The “7 Chakras” incorporates movement through a whirlwind of elements that surround the Supreme Being. Each of the elements seems to have its own texture and corresponds with an area of the body, certain behavioral characteristics and a stage of spiritual growth. Some complementary colors are used however; once again cool colors dominate the painting. Unlike the pattern of cool colors being used in the previous paintings, warm, colors are used in the painting of “Ganesha”. Ganesha is the God with the elephant head that represents spirituality. The Goddess “Saraswati” is the god of Arts and Literature. The instrument in her hands is parallel with the wings of the swan that she rides in on, thus creating an isometric perspective. A Foreshortened swan places the blue skies far behind them. As the moon shines, a halo effect is created around the head of Saraswati. Most of the paintings in this exhibition are calming and soothing, but the last painting effects the emotions negatively. The red halo and black background of the painting gives it a demonic feel. “Kali” is the goddess of death. In each of her eight arms is a violet weapon or symbol of death. What a way to use unity within this painting!

In the Hidu religion are many Gods and Goddesses. All of which have their own meaning and representation. Design elements and principles are incorporated to display these Gods and their overall meaning and importance in the Indian culture.