Indian Summer
Summer usually brings a prevalence of tie-dye shirts and fanny packs, but these past few days I’m noticing a more pan-Asian flavor. On the subway, when I have nothing to do but stand around just looking at people, I’ve been seeing girls of all ethnicities don colorful sari-inspired blouses, bird and paisley motifs, and a more flowing style in general. Interior decorators and house owners have also been following the styles of India; I saw a beautiful collection of Buddhas at one house recently. Sotheby’s alone sold over one million dollars worth of Indian art this year.
And why not? The aesthetic and stories of India hold a lot of material for artistic endeavors. The mythology of India alone brings a substantial richness to the art. Eighty percent of the Indian population is Hindu and their art is pervasive across the country. Temple frescoes are covered with depictions of strange and exotic icons. Vishnu, the Supreme Being, is depicted in his fifth avatar (physical form) as a three-legged dwarf. My own favorite of the Hindu Pantheon is Ganesh, patron of art and sciences, god of wisdom. He sports a velvety elephant head and four of his own arms. Buddhism, though nowhere near as popular as Hinduism (along with two other religious sects, it accounts only for three percent of religious followers in India), is another religion that is depicted in paintings and statues.
Buying Indian décor, clothes and art can be a very gratifying experience. Each piece brings with it an exoticism of an old, beautiful culture into your home. Still, a buyer must know the caveats; forgery has grown its own legs in the Indian goods market. Forgers are unabashedly copying works of dead and living artists, signing desired names to be ready for sale in the Western world. If you are in the buyers market for a piece of India, make sure you know and trust your dealer. If you’re buying from a contemporary, living artist, make sure with them that it is their work. Afterwards, enjoy the growing trend and later, the classic piece that makes your home yours.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Very inspiring post!
July 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Speaking of Indian art,check Roerichs (father and son). Intersting mixture of Russian art (and European by proxy) to Indian Motives.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Good Article.
A couple of small details.
“Hindi” is the language , while “Hindu” is the religion. When you say that 80% of India is “Hindi”, I presume you mean “Hindu”.
There are 10 avatars of Vishnu and the fifth one is Vamana(three legged dwarf), the first four being: Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Turtle),Varaha(Boar), Narasimha(half-lion, half-man)-the order of the avatars also reflects evolution of life on the earth.
Later texts include Buddha as an avatar of Vishnu, thus integrating Buddha and his teachings into Hindusism.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I was trying really hard not to confuse Hindi and Hindu and managed to do so anyway. Thanks for catching everything, I edited to reflect the corrections.
I didn’t realize that the avatars were in order of evolution, that’s actually really interesting and cool that the religion deals with that.
Thanks, Nandini!