Monday, December 14, 2015

TROPICAL TIMES


As the World Powers have been meeting in Paris to discuss climate change,
we have been having some Extreme Summer Storms - the type which cause mayhem with power outages and hail.  Thankfully, the Cardinal nest has escaped with nothing more bothersome than a lot of leaves and branches to clean up..


Over 85% of Queensland is in drought, with farmers in desperate circumstances.
Suddenly, here in the South East, the storms have brought new green to the countryside.


We took my father for a long drive on Sunday, and we all enjoyed the rare sight of so much green in the fields and along the roads.
Not so long ago, it was all dead and brown.



In other news, we celebrated 44 years of wedding bliss.
Mr C bought us this lovely planter basket of blooms to celebrate.
Well done, and very festive for Christmas.



As promised, I would like to show you some work from the APT8, the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art currently running at our GOMA.

This sculptural work comes from a remote village, Puhputra, in Chhattisgarh, India, which has become renowned for a small group of artists who have developed a unique sculptural tradition to adorn their surroundings.


The story begins in the 1950s, when a young woman, Sonabai, was confined to her house by a much older husband, forbidden to talk to others or be seen.  After ten years of marriage, she had not produced a child, and for this was ostracised.  Then finally, when Sonabai gave birth to a son, she was still locked away in her home, cooking and cleaning and caring for her baby.
She had no toys for her son, and in desperation dug clay from the edge of her well and fashioned toys for him, animal and human figures.





She loved the process and soon filled the rooms with clay figures.  In the summer it was unbearably hot, 46-52 deg C.  To cool down the environment, she began shaving strips from bamboo poles, curling them into circles, typing these into grids, and joining them between columns in her interior courtyard.  She covered this with clay creating lattices to catch the breeze and cool the rooms.


She added figures to the lattice, birds and winding snakes.
She had invented an entirely new style of art.





Eventually, Sonabai was permitted to move out into the community, and began to teach her art form to the people.  She was bewildered when local researchers were sent from a new museum and took a panel away from her house as an exhibit.  Her fame spread, and in 1993, Sonabai travelled to Brisbane for the third Asia-Pacific triennial where she created a work that replicated part of her own home.  This work is now part of the Qld. Art Gallery collection.

Sonabal passed away in 2007, and her house has become a much-admired museum.  The works currently on exhibition were done by a collaborative group which includes her son, Daroga Ram.  They are some of the few practicing proponents of the tradition.


This is Sonabai, with some of her original work.


Out of tragic circumstances, Sonabai found a way to make her art, and fortunately it led to her having a fulfilling and interesting life, and to leaving a legacy for all to enjoy.

The pieces are wonderfully vibrant and appealing, and I notice how readily the visiting public are drawn to admire and enjoy them.


Some people have finished their Christmas cooking, and card sending, and gift purchasing.  
I am not one of these people.

This week, I will make a big effort.
And, possibly, a Christmas cake.

Keep cool, and dry.

XXXXX

27 comments:

  1. HI Patricia...
    I had seen on the news about the very hot temps down there...
    We are also unseasonably mild up here!
    No snow...none in the forecast....
    Very I there sting about the artist...she was a true survivor....
    Happy Anniversary....hope you both hadca wonderful day!

    M*E*R*R*Y C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. uh...that should read...very interesting about the artist!!! darn Ipad!!

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    2. Hi Linda, I had a smile to see the 'sting' - darn predictive text - has its own ideas.
      No snow for Christmas? That is not fair. Hope you get some, just to make it pretty. Cheers.

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  2. Happy to see your green surroundings but it is too bad it takes big storms to produce it. I really enjoyed the art and the story of Sonabai. I can see why museum visitors are drawn to it. It seems so accessible.

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    1. Yes, funny weather here, Darla. Back in the 'olden days' we used to have monsoon rains over the Summer, which sorted out our water supply, and the garden. Only a few storms of the non-violent variety. Those days are gone! I love the story of Sonabai, and accessible is a good term for it. It makes everybody smile!

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  3. Thank you for sharing Sonabai's story. I had never heard of her before but that was fascinating to read about and her art is so distinctive. Art can come from the unlikeliest places sometimes. She was very talented. I'm glad you didn't have too much damage from the storm. It seems the weather is going crazy these days. It's colder, with more snow on the ground, where I live in New Mexico right now than it is in Maine! Hard to believe. I hope you're having a good week and run-up to the holidays.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the story, Jennifer. Sonabai's talent found an outlet, in the most dire of circumstances. That is the wonderful thing about creative art, isn't it. Crazy weather everywhere - and no snow in Ottawa for Christmas it seems. All things going well here, and Christmas cake has now made it into the oven :)

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  4. Sonabai's story is lovely and her art is beautiful. I haven't heard of her either! And so green in your area! It could be Belgium :) I was thinking at the end of your post we need the reverse....dry yes, but keeping warm is more important in our case! Happy holidays, Patricia!

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    1. Hi Val, glad you enjoyed Sonabai's story. It is an unusual green for our Summer, just shows what a good soaking can do to the ground. Yes, keep warm and dry over there, and have a beautiful Christmas.

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  5. Sonabai's little people are so appealling and full of character. The Indian people are very good at making something out of nothing.
    Congratulations on your 44th Wedding Anniversary, and what a lovely basket of petunias Mr. C bought to celebrate.
    When we very occassionally loose our green lawn, which doesn't happen very often, the contrast does seem very strange, so I can imagine what it is like for you in reverse!

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    1. The little figures are full of character, you are absolutely right Rosemary. I think that is why we are drawn to them. From her photograph, I think Sonabai must have been quite a character herself.
      The green was so startling, after months of dry, brown countryside. I wish some rain would go to the poor farmers further west, who are having very difficult times.
      Thank you for the anniversary wishes - we are happy to still be together!

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  6. Thank you so much for sharing Sonabai's story ...
    Many congratulations on your 44 years of wedding bliss...

    May the week ahead be a good one.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, and have a happy Christmas week too.

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  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Sorry Linda, I accidentally deleted your comment, when trying to fix up a mistake in my reply! Apologies, and Merry Christmas. x

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  8. Fascinating to read about Sonabai, she was obviously an incredible woman and a great artist too. A sad story turned into something amazing. I hope that you get some rain, without damaging storms. Happy Christmas! xx

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    1. I think that is one reason I am intrigued by Sonabai - she endured what we now term domestic violence, yet managed to bring joy to her circumstances, and eventually to have a good life. Happy Christmas to you, Amy. xx

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  9. What an amazing woman Sonabai was - a testimony to the human spirit. More storms today, I think - certainly a lot this year along the east coast.

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    1. Yes, lots of electricity and hail about the traps this year. I think I see something brewing up again here today!

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  10. Patricia, what an interesting story about Sonabai. She made such wonderful pieces out of clay for her son. They are vibrant with color and whimsical.

    Wow 44 years, that is so special, Patricia. The flower basket is a nice gift from husband. I didn't realize that your area was in need of rain too. It rained ALOT here on Sunday, and we really needed it. Our power even went out for awhile. Your dad must have enjoyed the long ride in the countryside with his precious daughter.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Yes, Sonabai's works are whimsical, and I guess that is why they appeal to me.
      Glad to hear you had a lot of rain - nothing worse than a drought, which we often have in Australia. We are still well below average for December, despite the green grass. Must go and water that flower basket now :) xx

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  11. Happy Anniversary to you and your husband Patricia! The flower basket is a beauty! I hope the storms will reduce themselves to calmer rains for you. Amazing how the earth rejuvenates with the fresh waters though.

    Loved this story about Sonabai. She made a happier place for herself and her son. A beautiful ending to her life story. This reminds me of the quilters of Gee Bend in the USA. Cut off from others, they created their very own style of quilts. It's amazing how we can create when there have been no outside influences. Her sculptures are so sweet in their simplicity and the colours so vibrant. Thanks for sharing this amazing woman's work.
    Wendy

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    1. hi Wendy, thank you for your comments. I immediately googled the Gee Bend quilters, which are very interesting. Their work has wonderful modernist aspects. I am very fond of crazy quilts, and see the influence there. Glad you enjoyed the Sonabai story.

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  12. Happy 44th anniversary, Tricia and Mr. C!!

    I get a chuckle at the snowmen in their scraves, knowing you celebrate Christmas in the summer. They are adorable though.

    I have never heard of APT8. I like their work very much.

    And lets not talk about folks who have all their Christmas cooking completed. Only last night did I start with a butch of Christmas cookies. If I started earlier, they'd possibly be all eaten before Christmas week ... and I'm sticking with that story. :)

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    1. Thank you Debbie, I think I might do a post about hot Christmas in Australia! We can only dream about snow...
      Yes, re the cookies, same problem here - made some the other day, started eating them then consigned them to the very back of the freezer. Can't trust self!

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