Mythology
Due to countless visits to India and living there for a few years, I am very attached to the rich mythological world offered by Hinduism. In fact, I consider myself something like a Hindu, if not a traditional one, for the obvious reason that I know too little about these cultural traditions. Wonderfully, the wide range from abstract philosophy to the worship of particular gods and goddesses which the Hindu thinking includes, gives room for many different mental concepts.
Yet I have also studied the mythology of other countries with great interest and so paint Gods, Goddesses and archetypal characters of different cultures and times from all over the world. My joking explanation would be “ Show me a god/goddess and I believe in Her/Him...and will paint them with great respect.”
Durga portrait, part 1
Durga, portrait, part 1
Godess Durga. Red, the colour which symbolizes her energies, has become the colour of her face.
Kali aus Kakshiniswar
Kali Mata(Mutter)
English text
Meera waiting before Temple Door
Meera waiting before temple door
Meera is singing in one of her songs to Krishna about herself patiently waiting in front of his temple until the doors will be opened. This is symbolic for the individual soul having to strive patiently for inner growth and wisdom.
Meera has a Vision of Krishna
Meera has vision of Krishna
Meera was a historical figur in Rajasthan, India, during Renaissance, a very famous woman saint. She worshipped Sri Krishna and composed and sang many songs to him. These songs are still very popular amongst people of all backgrounds in India. She was born into a royal family and like St.Francis and St.Claire she renounced a life in luxury and wealth for her faith.
Durga portrait, 2
Lion of Durga
The lion or tiger is the mount of Godess Durga and symbolizes her invincible strength.
Clara von Assisi
Clara of Assisi
Kali wild
Kali wild
Englisch Text
Krishna plays
Krishna plays
Englisch text
Dancing Feet of Krishna
Dancing feet of Krishna
dancing in the forest. In India women and children tradionally often wear anklets with silver bells. Krishna as a boy is always shown to wear those: the `noopur` .Hearing the ringing of Krishna‘s footbells is often mentioned in songs and poems. It is a symbol for perception of growing transcendence and inner peace.
Freya
Freya.
Englisch text
Krishna Western Portrait
Krishna Western Portrait
The god Krishna has rather western features and is placed into the ocean here meaning that the Divine is in all forms everywhere present.
Lion of Durga
Lion of Durga
The lion or tiger is the mount of Godess Durga and symbolizes her invincible strength.
Meera with Krishna Giridhar
Meera with Krishna Giridhar
Meera often calls Krishna by his name `Giridhar` in her songs, the one who holds the mountain on his little finger. She is hereby refering to an episode from mythology when he lived in Vrindaban as a young boy. There he once used a whole mountain as an umbrella to protect his home village from heavy rain.
This episode symbolizes, that nothing is impossible, or rather, that we should never lose faith in a happy turn of fate even in a most difficult situation as life is unpredictable and nothing good impossible if one only keeps up faith.
Blue Minotaur
Blue Minotaur
Picture from a dream. The Minotaur was a symbol of the power of the female goddess of the matricentric (matriarchalic) culture of Minos. Their faith was then demonized by the upcoming patriarchy of Athens just as upcoming Christianity demonized the faith of the celts later on.
Durga on the lion
Durga on the lion
Silhouette of the many armed, weapon carrying goddess on her powerful mount.
Gopal Newborn
Gopal
English Text