And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the centre grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy. Black Elk, Ogalala Sioux
Far beyond the hectic concrete jungle of modern life, there exists a parallel reality, an undiscovered world where people still see and feel things in their purest and innocent forms. They are fierce hunters and warriors who inhabit a world that is green and abundant. They are gentle believers of the Spirits that recognize all of nature, as one. Their lives are far removed from our own today, yet they are where we all began. Theirs is a way of experiencing the world that is perhaps as old as human consciousness itself.
Whether it is the Dongrias of Orissa, the Aborigines of Australia or the Navajos in America, all forest dwellers are privy to an insight that is intimate and profound. They see human beings as only one component in a system of complex inter-relationships between plants, animals and physical forces . All life as it is known to them, human, animal, bird or fish, is part of an unchanging interconnected system, one vast network of relationships. The Earth is perceived as the Mother of all and is inseparable from their own bodies.
They live in uncodified but more personal societies. Relationships are the foundation of their culture. Loneliness is not a problem in their world, whether they are with kin or alone with
nature. Neither is identity. Nor is moral confusion. Or boredom. They remind us that our way is not the only way. Inspite of the incredible hardships and danger they face everyday, their spirit is rich with an ancient wisdom we have forgotten. Their story is written in song.
Their dance is a soul enriching rhythm that honors the circle of life. And, in the unified circle that they form, they venerate their most intimate connection. Within themselves, each other and their Universe.
References: Sacha Dean Biyan, Jared Diamond
Collection Note
Most primitive cultures practiced some form of Paganism. These include folk religions that use animistic, pantheistic or transformational rituals. Jewelry was connected with spirituality and typically revolved around the concept that souls or spirits exist in humans, as well as in animals, plants or inanimate objects. Ornaments became a celebration or an offering to a Spirit in nature that they considered a deity.
Copper , one of the earliest metals used by humans takes predominance in the collection. It is found in its purest forms in nature, a reason perhaps why it was discovered early and was used for its aesthetic quality to create ornaments and artefacts. Suhani employs this metal as her base, to connect and reclaim its original relevance.
The ‘circle’ of connection forms a key shape in the collection – whether it appears in a calm, clean spiral bangle or a fierce ‘spoke’ neckpiece .Coloured cord ‘coils’ bind the concept that all of nature is one.The intertwined trellised vines, flora and fauna in the forest inspired motifs emphasize the forest dwellers’ belief that all life is intricately linked.
Primeval art drawings, earthen dwellings, the sun and moon patterns manifest as a representation of their ancient understanding that the Earth, nature and they themselves are part of a vast network of relationships.Acrylic is infused as an almost ‘aloof and distant’ element to signify an opposing world disconnected from the earliest wisdom we all once had.
Ornaments: hair bands, ‘borlas’, ear buttons, ear 'kanautis', necklaces, belts, cuffs, bangles, armbands, anklets.
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