Chapter 8, Let go...


Most of the time artists are the first ones to fall in love with their artwork and once it is finished, they even want to possess it secretly. As hard it is to separate from the work, at the same time overwhelming and soul-satisfying- if someone else has understood the music they were creating through their art and want to own it without any negotiations or conditions. However, some works go beyond these criteria of buying and selling or possessing. I do not say such works need to be masterpieces or be outstanding, but still, this is how art wishes to be manifested- unconditionally.

As I got up early last morning in Badanga, I woke others up who wished to join me for my last visit to the mountain, and they took no time to get up. Anant was usually sitting at the fire every day in the morning, seeing we are off to some kind of expedition, he offered us some chai and joined us. Anant was another artist in the residency- a printmaker with a thorough knowledge of his art. As the group walked towards the mountain, we could see the routine life in the village had already started, kids playing in the streets after helping in the chores of their homes…as the village woke up much earlier, it always felt we are a little late. Reached the mountain, and at the viewing spot, we all sat and settled- meditated for like 20 -25 minutes.  I wished to play a nirguni bhajan of saint Kabir, sung by Kumar Gandharwa as we enjoyed the view of the mountain from our meditation spot. I could not be more grateful towards my fellow artists for their kind gesture to join me in this visit and to see the artwork, the way I wished it to be seen- felt and absorbed. What a privilege I was granted and what an ordinance!

Just gotten up from the bed, but wide awake- with me, Linh, Zaynab, and Juliia

I desired to stay there for some more time. Some of the artists left for their own further last expeditions and Zaynab, Linh and Julia stayed with me. We took a few last shots from Julia's mobile cam (Julia is an amazing Russian glass artist and is an equally amazing painter/graphic artist). As we started climbing the mountain, I looked at Zaynab and said, “Zaynab…maybe next time we shall have your performance here!”. She promptly says in response, “why not now??”. She goes to the spot exactly where I wished she would perform someday, and here she goes on singing the special song that she composed during her stay in the residency. A gesture of the last blessing from the mountain…a generous gesture of a soul- mate, a sibling, a friend…what more I could take from there…what more could I desire?


A lesson well learned- if the work you are doing is an act of worship…you cannot claim the part of the doer (explains tearing down of the title page) or ownership- it's not the children of Badanga who tore it down, but it was the mountain who had refused it. And like a flower offered to the deity, you must detach yourself from it and let go…



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