The divine Devi
Exhibition explores iconic feminine expressions of deities and their interconnectedness with nature and being‘Devi’ does not just stand for different goddesses who embody creation, destruction, and the cycles of life. It is symbolic of feminine energy in both spiritual and human forms.
The goddesses mirror cultural and social ideals of womanhood, celebrating the essence of feminine power and strength.
The many forms of Devi transcend religion, borders, realities, and personal awakenings. Devi is form yet formlessness, elemental and elusive, mystical and mundane, beautiful yet brutal.
This multifaceted nature of female deities finds quiet expression in the stillness of Takpa Gallery, through the collaborative work of Emily Avery Yoshiko Crow and Tara Di Gesu.
Crow is from Colorado, and has been living and learning art in India, Nepal and Canada. Di Gesu learnt classical thangka painting in Nepal, adding a new delicate quality to the sacred artform.
Crow’s artwork of layered lotuses forming the image of Lotus Tara is a contemporary interpretation of the revered goddess, rendered in mixed media photo collage. Through soft blue and pink pastels, Lotus Tara radiates tranquility. In contrast, Marigold Tara emerges from a deep, dark backdrop, with her form shaped by fiery orange marigolds.
In Red Tara Realm, digital collage and paint meld to create a hypnotic, multi-dimensional effect where the many forms of the deity in red overlap and intertwine within a single frame. A simpler, original version of Red Tara sits nearby, counterbalancing the dynamic fusion.
One of her more intriguing works is Kalavinka, painted on handmade Indian paper with mineral pigments featuring a colourful bird’s body paired with a feminine human head. The human head embodies intellect while the bird represents instinct and agility.
Offering Devis is another unique display, made with rose petals, gathered from Mandala offerings that Crow collected, dried, pressed, and painted onto delicate Japanese paper.
Tara Di Gesu’s artwork evokes bolder and more spiritually intense themes, drawing inspiration from the style commonly found in traditional thangka paintings.
Kali and Khrodikali portrays the fierce Hindu goddess using mineral pigment, gold, and watercolour on silk. Adorned with a garland of skulls, Kali is a fearless embodiment of feminine strength, and a potent reminder of the divine life force. The Little White Vulture has softer and delicate tones in which the goddess glows with power, as she soars serenely.
The exhibition also invites reflection on caring for nature and the deep interconnectedness of all living beings, the beauty and the fragility of our planet, with Crow’s use of eco-conscious materials.
Her watercolours Earth in Peril and Earth in Harmony depict the stark divide between flood and fire, yet a figure stands strong at the centre, entwined with hopeful touches of greenery and natural elements, while the latter bursts with lush life involving birds, flowers, and leaves in full bloom.
Emily Avery Yoshiko Crow and Tara Di Gesu delve into both the intimate and iconic expressions. For both artists, Devi is more than art, it is an act of devotion celebrating the ineffable.
Devi
Till 26 July
Tuesday-Thursday: 11AM-6PM
Friday-Sunday: 11AM-7PM
Takpa Gallery, Lazimpat