Of Heart and Hands
Celebrating the lives of two artistic women, from two different cultures whose work has been influenced and inspired by their hearts and their hands.
Shanti Devi
Resident Madhubani Artist
Madhubani - literally “a forest of honey” is a style of painting traditionally done by women of the Mithila region, close to the border of Nepal. The paintings incorporate figures from nature and mythology - Hindu deities, native animals and ornate representations of social happenings.
In her painting in the Blumhardt Gallery, Devi will painted the story of The Bahagavad Gita, which has been nicknamed “The Gita” in many parts of India.
Often referred to as a practical self-contained guide to life, “The Gita” details a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Responding to Arujuna’s moral dilemma Krishna elaborates on a number of different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies.
The ceremonial folk paintings are the exclusive monopoly of women artists in this region. Madhubani artists will traditionally mix their paints by hand, obtaining black by mixing soot from cow dung, yellow from tumeric, pollen, lime or the milk of a banyan tree, and green from wood apple trees..
Doreen Blumhardt
An exhibition celebrating the career of one of New Zealand's leading potters
Recognised as one of our pre-eminent potters and craft educators, Doreen Blumhardt has played an instrumental role in fostering New Zealand craft.
In the 1940s she helped to develop an arts programme for primary school students and went on to become the head of the art department at Wellington Teacher's Training College.
During her extensive career as a potter, educator and writer, Doreen has created numerous works which range in style from domestic ware through to decorative ware and large scale murals.
In this exhibition, a variety of pieces were chosen to illustrate the range of her work.