LIVING IS EASY
Living is Easy is a professional development program for Struts Gallery Members. Participating artists are invited to use gallery space to stage or document work, install an exhibit, or generally experiment with their work in the space.
Exhibition dates: August 3rd - 14th
Birds and their Symbolism
By Indu Varma
Birds have fascinated me ever since I was a little girl. I look at birds and think of freedom, open space, soaring high to go places, looking at the big picture from above, leaving the security of the nest to embrace new experiences, venturing into the unknown, living in the moment and above all trusting their own wings to carry them. I feel that this, in a nutshell, is how we ought to live.
This exhibition of ceramic sculptures and paintings focuses on four birds mainly – Canadian geese, the crow, the parrot, and the peacock. Having lived in India during my childhood and youth and in Canada during my adult years, the works in this exhibition explore the symbolism, common beliefs, and cultural notions of these birds in both cultures.
Geese teach us important lessons related to leadership, nurturing the young, sharing hard tasks and supporting each other through difficult situations. Crows are very intelligent. There are references to them in Indian mythology. People feed them because it is believed that they visit in the form of ancestors. There is a saying that when a crow tries to imitate a graceful swan, it forgets its own traits. The parrots symbolize the importance of love, friendliness, socialization & communication in relationships. In India, goddess Meenakshi, the goddess of fertility, is associated with parrot. The peacock is associated with many deities in India. Peacock feathers symbolize good luck and happiness. Lord Krishna used to wear a peacock feather in his hair. Peacocks symbolize beauty, grace, elegance, regeneration etc. They eat poisonous plants and snakes and yet their beauty is mesmerizing. In other words, the trials and tribulations of life should make us stronger, more resilient and bring out the best in us.
The works will invite the viewers to reflect on the symbolism related to these birds and the lessons we can learn from birds.
BIO
Originally from India, Indu has lived in Sackville, New Brunswick since 1969. Following a successful teaching career of 37 years she pursued her interest in fine arts and enrolled herself in visual arts courses at the Université de Moncton (UdeM). A graduate of the visual-arts program of UdeM (2016), Indu proudly presents her works in ceramics, printmaking and painting.
Indu is based in Sackville, NB at the Salt Marsh Studio. She strives to create art that inspires and is meaningful. Her art reflects her Indo-Canadian identity, which is a product of her Indian culture, and her experiences of living and working in the cultural milieu of her chosen country, Canada. Her work reflects a beautiful mix of the culture and traditions of both countries.
Want to participate in programs like this in the future? Become a Struts Gallery Member! Available online here.
Comments