This piece is worked with a cotton sari and western gingham fabrics, incorporating acrylics, collage, and printing. The goal of this piece was to illustrate my emotions throughout my journey through countries and cultures which culminate in the harmony that I now feel.
The Eastern lady exemplifies the values my mother instilled in me. She herself was raised in a village in India and then brought to a traditional home in East Africa. She knew what she wanted for me and gave me strong roots. My travels and journey to the West allowed me to expand, learn and release the best of myself and to come into my own.
The piece starts in the East and moves to the West. The Gurarati/lndian side is depicted by the hands that hold the Hindu culture and keep it sacred. The lady has her “bindi” on her forehead, communicating who she is, what she believes in, and where she stands in society. She is draped in a sari covering the body, with her eyes in a subservient gaze. Her feet take her out to explore. Once she is on her journey, she lets her hair loose as she releases all and becomes who she is. Her lips articulate the freedom of love and speech. Sensuality is explored as well as the non-traditional Eastern symbols. Freedom of speech, dress, and behavior develops the mind, spirit, and life.
On the one hand, the traditional “box” keeps the human body safe and cared for. It is draped and decorated. It is colorful and behaves the way society expects. The mind, however, keeps within itself and its small circle. It stays closed with social stillness, borders, walls, and limits. The auspicious “bindi” signifies the tie that binds souls together and celebrates the “bandhan”, togetherness. Traditions keep us woven together in a net. They are important to feel a sense of belonging, but they can get in the way of a person’s exploration and enhancement. I have enjoyed the different cultures I grew up with. The East gave me control, sanity, spirituality, and internal identity. The West helped me expand and grow into who I am today.
