Mrida : Atral Blue
“Astral Blue†is a collection of paintings by Mrida Joshi depicting core cosmic forms that are the basis of all other complex creations of nature.
Inspired by the ‘Yantras’ in Vedic Sciences, the artist attempts to imitate the pattern of ‘energy forms’ that surround and shape all existence but are not visible to our limited sight. These are implicit parallels to modern day physics and quantum that strive to define our physical and energic truths.
Mrida’s works in ink on paper are composed of basic geometric shapes such as the dot (bindu), the circle (chakra), the triangle (trikona), the square (bhupura), the diagonal lines, the six-pointed star (shatkona), the lotus (padma). Each of these shapes separately bear multiple symbologies – to the five basic elements (air, water, wind, fire, earth); various vedic gods; qualities of nature; numerical progressions; colours; sounds etc.
For example the ‘dot’ is a symbol for multiple aspects – the element air/ether/metal; the source of all creation lord Shiva; infinity; the colour white; the eternal sound of Om; the qualities of all pervasiveness, omniscience, omnipresence and divine love.
A ‘Yantra’ may be simple or complex (a combination of the basic forms) and represents a parallel set of basic truths which when invoked produces a corresponding effect. They are keys to tune into the cosmic forces of nature that create us. The paintings exhibited are not precise “Yantras†but images inspired from them.
