POETRY IN STONE
Art and architecture has flourished in the Cauvery delta over centuries.
I continue to be enthralled particularly by the sublime brilliance of Chola art.
A recent trip to Thanjavur and its environs gave me and Ahalya an opportunity to savour some of it. We visited Brihadeeswara Temple, Dharasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram.
The temple walls are a medley of history and myth where unknown artisans have given expression to their creative spirit.
And you can have a glimpse of some of these treasured sculptures in the following pages.
The Art Gallery at Thanjavur has some exquisite sculptures from several temples in the region and also some extraordinary collection of bronzes. It was quite disquieting to see the callousness with which these priceless objects are being treated. In our presence a workman climbed on a thousand year old sculpture to paint the ceiling! In spite of indifferent display, the bronzes are truly captivating, especially representations of Somaskanda.
It was sheer coincidence that we were able to cast our eyes on an exquisite replica of it in an artist’s studio and workshop at Swamimalai. It was hard to resist and now finds a special place at home! The young sthapathi (sculptor) whom we met is actually doing a Phd in Chola sculptures at Thanjavur university! I was mentioning to him about the similarities between the Dancing Girl figure of Indus Valley Civilization and the Chola representations of female figure. And I was surprised when he brought an essay and poem which he had written just that morning on this very same issue!
Jung would have called it synchronicity!
Do scroll through the tag at Glimpses Through The Lens to have a glimpse of individual locations
I continue to be enthralled particularly by the sublime brilliance of Chola art.
A recent trip to Thanjavur and its environs gave me and Ahalya an opportunity to savour some of it. We visited Brihadeeswara Temple, Dharasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram.
The temple walls are a medley of history and myth where unknown artisans have given expression to their creative spirit.
And you can have a glimpse of some of these treasured sculptures in the following pages.
The Art Gallery at Thanjavur has some exquisite sculptures from several temples in the region and also some extraordinary collection of bronzes. It was quite disquieting to see the callousness with which these priceless objects are being treated. In our presence a workman climbed on a thousand year old sculpture to paint the ceiling! In spite of indifferent display, the bronzes are truly captivating, especially representations of Somaskanda.
It was sheer coincidence that we were able to cast our eyes on an exquisite replica of it in an artist’s studio and workshop at Swamimalai. It was hard to resist and now finds a special place at home! The young sthapathi (sculptor) whom we met is actually doing a Phd in Chola sculptures at Thanjavur university! I was mentioning to him about the similarities between the Dancing Girl figure of Indus Valley Civilization and the Chola representations of female figure. And I was surprised when he brought an essay and poem which he had written just that morning on this very same issue!
Jung would have called it synchronicity!
Do scroll through the tag at Glimpses Through The Lens to have a glimpse of individual locations