Gossamer threads of connections




































































"And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul."


Walt Whitman in 'A Noiseless Patient Spider'


Standing at Pepper House, one of the earliest points of Portuguese spice trade in Kochi, built around 1503, I felt a sense of thrill, not of history, but of standing at a spice warehouse where possibly the wild, seductive, artistic Aurora da Gama might have cast her eyes on the ‘godown duty clerk’, Abraham Zogoiby in Salman Rushdie’s 'The Moor’s Last Sigh'…I imagined the pepper sacks piled high and the spice laden air filled with the fragrances of cardamom, cumin and their ‘hot love’.

I love the cover.



That the flamboyant character of Aurora Zogoiby has been linked to the artist Amrita Sher-Gil, (the aunt of artist Vivan Sundaram) who is sometimes known as India’s Frida Kahlo made it all the more moving for me.   



Amrita Sher Gil's 'Three Girls' (Source-Wiki)



Walking down Aspinwall House, one of the venues of the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2012, where Vivan Sundaram’s installation ‘Black Gold’ is exhibited or musing by the windows at Pepper House, resonating with the connections to Rushdie’s characters was dream-like for me.

Pic taken by me at the Pepper House


wooden floored hall at Pepper House (my pic)


laterite walls in the ancient pepper warehouse (my pic)


do you hear footfalls echoing on the wooden stairs? (my pic)



The installation at the Pepper House by Anita Dube involved climbing a narrow ladder into a wooden floored attic echoing with sounds of footfalls, sounds of things beings dragged, a heart rending, inconsolable sobbing playing itself out. It evoked    a spine-tingling sense of past…the sounds seemed to evoke the essence of all the numerous souls who may have drifted past that ancient tiled roof, nay, this ancient shore. (Check out the link to hear her speak about the work)



The lovely video installation by Gitanjali Rao was another treat, albeit a wistful one, titled, 'Printed Rainbow', it shows the loneliness in the life of an old woman, an absolutely beautiful tribute to her mother. Gitanjali won three awards at the Cannes 2006, was shortlisted at the Academy Awards 2008, and won 25 other International Awards…well, it is not of her awards that I want to write about, it is the sheer beauty and innocence in each of her frames. The jewel-like colors in the imaginary world her characters, a sweet old lady and her plump cat, step into through the matchbox covers are breathtaking.( I have added her link)  Update - I have since found this link to her video...I really feel it is a great short film, please do watch. You can see i t-  here.

From Gitanjali Rao's Printed Rainbow (from the web)


from the short film 'Printed Rainbow' (fro the Web)

  These are just some of the moments I spent at the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2012 when I wished I was not just an armchair artist, but, someone out there doing awe-inspiring stuff, like these great people. Hmm…well, "Never underestimate yourself," my teacher told me years ago, and I pulled myself up, and hey presto,…here I have a rabbit out of the hat for you…well, no, not a rabbit exactly...but the postcards that I sent out to the amazing bloggers Marcia had assigned to me for the swap at Artist in Blogland. ( I am happy like a girl that she has put up a post over there with one of my cards on! Heee!) One of them already got it and informed me she liked it. I must tell you it was a huge sigh of relief because I was so nervous that they may not like my cards! Well, two of them are yet to get back. Meanwhile I am waiting eagerly for my cards. 

Now let me give you a quick peek at the cards I painted and mailed out.











Linking my longer than usual post to PPF, Creative Everyday, Art Journal Everyday, Artists in Blogland
Sunday Sketches
Wishing a good day to all of you!




Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing those photos... so inspiring... and the cards you painted are delightful...xx

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  2. Thanks for sharing!! Very pretty painted cards!!
    Happy ppf!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. Zafaran, these are very inspiring indeed and i do agree when you say never underestimate yourself...yes All of us are meant to make an IMPACT :)

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  4. Dear Zafaran!

    This is a beautiful post! I do so well understand your feelings about visiting such an amazing exhibition! Actually I mentioned my visit in Venice in 2011 on my blog (the art biennale). And the film is really beautiful and touching!
    Thank you for introducing us to some great artists and just proceed your work as you are producing some very powerful and beautiful artwork that touches me, at least!

    Ilona x

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  5. Beautifully painted cards.
    I especially like the first one. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  6. Good post and very instructive, the cards are amazing, I look like eyes and the sleeping girl. Saludos

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  7. a lovely post filled with the scent of spices
    spices of another land
    other artists and your wonderful pieces as well.

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  8. The cards are lovely. I can't imagine that you were nervous about sending them out. Great post - loved seeing through your eyes.

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  9. your cards are beautiful as is your post!

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  10. Interesting post! I love your cards, especially the last one. Thnx for sharing!

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  11. Yes My friend I did watch "Printed rainbow"...It is such a heart warming way of depicting the philosophy of life ... It brought tears to my eyes and at the same time my heart smiled when I found myself gliding along with her in the world of match boxes...match boxes have been my childhood love and I am very fond of collecting them :)Loved it thoroughly !!

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    Replies
    1. I am so happy you liked it! Thank you, Ritu!

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  12. Wow..such gorgeous art ..love those powerful entrancing eyes..and each of the pieces are magnificent! Shine on!
    Thanks for sharing the wonderful exhibition as well..stunnnig works, very special!
    Wishing you a sparkling creative day!
    Victoria

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  13. Dear Zafaran! Thank you for cheering me up! I'm not that down, but the news came on top of two previously learnt situations of people with similar serious illness. I certainly know about life's ups and downs, just need to express my feelings sometimes. It helps to get on, lightening the weight just a little, to share it.

    Ilona :-)

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    Replies
    1. Glad I could cheer you up!
      Friends are for painting a big sunny smile back on each others faces, aren't they. :-)

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  14. So so interesting thanks, and your art rocks too!

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  15. a lovely tour, and your postcards are fab!!

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  16. Beautiful art cards! The short film made me very sad, it was nice, but too sad.

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  17. Loving the colors in the bird one you made!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I did want to let you know though, that you happen to be a "no-reply blogger" which means, when I (anyone) get emails that you commented on my blog, we can't email you back to reply. I wrote about it a little while ago, so if you'd like to fix it: http://blog.adriennerose.me/2013/01/hey-no-one-replies-to-me.html check out that blog post!

    Again, thanks for stopping by!

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  18. Love the story about the pepper house. I've always wondered what pepper looks like and how they deal with it before it gets to my table... YOur postcards are gorgeous.
    You've got me dreaming about pepper and where my little boat might like to sail to next... xx

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  19. Wonderful post about The Pepper House and your artwork that you sent is so colorful and creative ~ Wow! ^_^

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  20. What a great post - so much to take in, and an amazing artist to research some more :)

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  21. Enchanting photos and beautiful words! The Pepper House sounds wonderful!

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  22. Lovely postcards! The postcard swap was such fun to do :)

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  23. I love all the colours of the posts you've shared. Your postcard is really lovely. :-)

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  24. Your painted cards are lovely. I like the various designs and styles. :)

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  25. Interesting post and I Google plussed it!

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  26. ovely cards that you sent. I bet the recipients will love them.

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  27. Hi Anita,

    Thanks for your postcard from postcard swap! Your postcard is painted so beautifully and skillfully. I've posted about your postcard here: http://rainemomentstogether.blogspot.ca/2013/02/postcards.html

    Thanks again,

    Victoria

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    1. Thank you, Victoria.
      I loved making them! I am so glad you like the postcard.:-)

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  28. Hi Zafaran, popping over to say hello. So glad that you liked my postcard. I love swaps where there is so much appreciation and care taken in the exchange. x

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    1. I love your card, Sandie! Thank you so much!

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  29. Zafaran, this was such an interesting post to read. Now i want to rush out and buy Salman Rushdie's book! Thank you for taking us along this journey. Beautiful pics, and your postcards are gorgeous. xox

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