Penelope Gan | Photo Blog just some cl!cks by me …
Posts Tagged ‘Art’
The Whirling Dervish
In the Whirling Dervish dance, dancers spinning incessantly, is done in devotion to Allah and the organic powers of the universe. The leader stands in the middle, representing the sun, while other members dance around him in imitation of the cycles of the planets.Their conical hat symbolizes the need to seal off one’s ego to connect to God and the universe, while the bellowing skirt represents a shroud and sky.
Reconstructing Hagia Sophia
A former Orthodox Patriarchal basilica between 360 to 1453, and later a mosque from 1453 to 1931, the Hagia Sophia has been transformed to a museum since 1935. Undergoing various stages of reconstruction, improvements, and more recently conservation, the Hagia Sophia is far from save due to its deteriorating structure and increasing humidity from rising ground water that weakens the stone work and paint. More funds and work is needed with the last taking place on 2006.
The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony
The Mevlewi believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a “dance” and musical ceremony known as the Sema, which involves whirling, from which the order acquired its nickname the Whirling Dervishes. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent through mind and love towards “Perfection”. The Sema is credited to the Mevlewi founder, Rumi, who heard the dhikr “la elaha ella’llah” which filled him with happiness that he stretched out both arms and spun in a circle.
The Blue Mosque Intriguing Interiors
More popularly known as the Blue Mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul earned its name from the 20,000 handmade Iznik ceramic tiles that lines the interior of the mosque lower levels. Closer inspections reveals recycled tiles on the balcony from the Topkapi Place, different grades of Iznik ceramic tiles – an inflationary response from the artisan to counter the fixed tile prices by the Sultan, and ostrich eggs amongst golden and gem encrusted chandelier and lamp work to repel spiders!
The Cathedral-Mosque Mezquita de Cordoba
Originating as a pagan temple, the Mezquita de Cordoba has been transformed to a Visigothic Christian Church, a Mosque and finally a Catholic Church resulting in an interesting eclectic mix of Moorish and Renaissance architecture as well as the co-existence of both Christian and Muslim elements under the same roof. Despite being over a century old, the tussle remains between Spanish Muslims and the Roman Catholic church on Spain’s famous Mezquita-Catedral (Mosque-Cathedral).
Djamaa el Fna and Kautoubia Mosque
Famed for the Djamaa el Fna with its vibrant souk that displays a labyrinths of Moroccan craft and wares by day and a mesmerizing scene of life drama that unfolds by night, Marrakesh is a place that drives one’s senses into overdrive mode with its heady mix of sound and colours, pungent smells of goats and camels, lingering sensuous scents of jasmine and orange blossoms, and tantalizing tastes.
Taj Mahal, the Crown Palace
The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world that was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his dear wife – queen Mumtaz Mahal. Completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees, the Taj is an “elegy in marble” or some say an expression of a “dream.”
Sanghyang Exorcism Fire Dance
Lulled into trance by the chants, the ‘horse rider’ in Sanghyang Djaran’s movements and dance in and out of the smoldering pile of burning coconut husks is in sync with the rising and falling chorus of chants.
Kecak (ˈketʃak)
A form of Balinese music drama performed primarily by hundreds of men only in loin cloths, Kecak infuses peripheral cultural elements of the Balinese Sanghyung exorcism ritual and fragments of the epic Ramayana in 1930s to gain wider acceptance. Today Kecak is adapted and performed for tourists.
Strokes of Hope
Be it traditional tantric influenced, middle-of-the-road, or avant garde art, Tibetan artist are fiercely express their identities breaking away from ‘mystics’ and ‘ethnic’ works. External influences – social, pyschological and economic changes in the world – seems to be the driving force for most, but in some cases its purely individual expression.
Sculptured Dough
Dough sculpturing dates back to the Han Dynasty as sacrifices for the dead. A dying folk art and tradition, little of it is known outside China and its importance as a study in history and folk lore has eroded. Struggling to remain relevant, dough scultures now takes form of popular pop culture genre and modern fictional characters.
Jumu’ah
“When it is Friday, the angels stand at every door of the mosque and record the people in order of arrival, and when the Imam sits on the pulpit for delivering the sermon, khutba, they fold up their sheets and listen to the mention of Allah, the speech.” Prophet Muhammad (as reported by Abu Hurayrah)
Suryavarman II Sacred Angkor Wat
Built in the early 12th C as King Suryavarman II’s temple state and capital city, Angkor Wat was neglected after the 16th C only to be discovered by French explorer – Henri Mouhot – in the mid-19th C. Restoration begun in the 20th C and continues today by foreign parties despite the establishment of the Angkor World Heritage Site that provides funds to the Cambodian government.
Java’s Hindu Triad: Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva
While Vaishnavism, Saivites and Smartism differ in their views of “the Hindu triad” or the “Great Trinity” that comprise of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Perserver and Shiva the Destroyer, the Javanese holds on to their very own beliefs and legend about the Prambanan.
Tibetan Refugees: Tibetan Rug Revival
Traditional Tibetan rug weaving industry dates back thousands of years to satisfy monastic institutions and the aristocrats’ need for khaden, but today Nepal and India are the largest producers and exporters of both Tibetan rugs and Tibetan-styled rugs. Traditional methods have given way for more cost effective and time efficient ways. Styles have evolved to suit the Western-styled homes.
Mojari Jootis Kolhapuris
These flats – Mojaris, Jootis and Kolhapuris – ‘floods’ Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab with production dating back to the period of Kings and Queens. Unlike those produced in the heydays with real gold and silver threads and gems, these cow hide shoes are now embellished with artificial materials to suit everyone’s budget.
Stitches of Tibet
In Tibet, tailoring is a fine art made proud by the fine pieces of silk thangkas ranging from the standard two feet to the 16-storeys kyigus, hand sewn laboriously by appliqué artists for months end. However at the TRSHC, the stitches of Tibet are applied to daily practical consumption items like clothing and shoes, with some toys for sale.
Chinese Opera Facial Makeup
Dating back to Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) Dynasties Chinese Opera face makeup plays a symbolic artistic function of expressing commendatory and derogatory connotations and that of differentiating benevolence and malevolence. Spending hours to depict the stereotypical characters they play, opera actresses and actors applies the face paint with horse-hair Chinese brushes themselves.
Malaysian Chinese Opera
Chinese Opera is now an incidental ‘performance’ limited to temple celebrations and festivals associated with the need to appease and honour deities. Stylised language, symbolism and feudal stories performed are irrelevant in today’s context, but the poliferation of gloablisation has brought new entertaintment.
Chinese Opera Musician
One of the three oldest dramatic art forms in the world, the delivery of the Chinese Opera’s beautifully written and lyrical dialogues are accompanied by melodious tunes produced by skilled musicians on traditional musical instruments like the Erhu, gong and lute.
Women Weavers: Kully Valley
20,000 people are engaged in weaving in the Kullu Valley, majority being women affliated with cooperative society operated by women for women. With these cooperatives, women benefit not only from economies of scale but general management knowledge that cuts across the entire value-chain of the weaving industry.