closer

Tonight the task of swathing the tiger in red velvet will be complete.

not calcutta

A neglectful patch of bloglessness ... I'm now working towards showing the entire body of work that is the vanishing ... all three tigers, 5,000 glass bullets and oh yes a new component that I decided upon just over a month ago.

Of course it involves LOTS of sewing and I'm now sailing close to the wind to complete it, as is often the case.

On my last day in Kolkata, I bought three beautiful white dupattas - the long sheathes of fabric that are worn draped over the shoulders. These ones are very fine cotton, open weave and handloom. Didn't have a purpose or particular idea in mind until discussing the advantages of wall-texts vs. no wall-texts with a friend, I pondered stitching the text I wanted to use on to the dupattas.

So, here is the last and longest that is not yet complete - 'the gift'.

turning 40

Happy Birthday Archana!

nieces

Achintya has about twelve teenage nieces who looked after me on the morning of the puja. We hung out in his grandmother's room on the bed, which works as a huge sofa, while various family members and friends came and went.

I was given 'prasad' ... sweets blessed by the priests, and tea and was introduced to Sayandip, the youngest member of the house at one year old. He was passed around amongst the girls and never touched the ground once. I was very taken with his bagh impersonation, a wide open mouth, screwed up nose and a silent roar every time someone said 'bagh'.

one thousand names

Achintya, who made my tigers, lives in beautiful old family home in Mandirtala, with a joint household of around fifty people. They are Brahmins and have lived there for many generations. The family temple at one end of the compound, is over two hundred and fifty years old and is well known among Hindu pilgrims.

On Tuesday they celebrated Annapurna Puja and invited me to join them. Annapurna is a manifestation of Parvati, Shiva's consort and she is the goddess of nourishment. And Annapurna has one thousand names.

Achintya constructed the deities, as he does for all their pujas.

I took some rasgullas, sandesh and burfi from Jugal's Sweet Shop which were offered to Annapurna for blessing by the priests (Achintya's uncle and brother). They had been chanting since 6.30 am and would continue throughout the day until around midnight. People were coming and going and with all the household there as well, it was bustling and relaxed.

Tonight the family will carry the deities in procession down to the Ganges and immerse them in the river, completing the puja for another year.

victoria

Yesterday I had lunch at Sholo Ana Bangali with Kazima and then went to the Victoria Memorial to see an exhibition of students work from Rabindra Bharati University. There was also an exhibition of paintings and drawings by artists from the West, watercolours and prints from 18th & 19th century which was fascinating.

The Victoria Memorial is self-explanatory and much has been written about it. The monument was commissioned by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy at the time, after Victoria's death in 1901. It cost over ten million rupees and took sixteen years to build. It is an enormous classically designed white marble structure, and quite blinding in the heat of the day.

As we left the Kolkata Pipe Band was standing to one side of the entrance and warming up for a performance. Bagpipes in Bengal, now there is another story.

picking up the pieces

I'm back in Kolkata and back at Khoj, just for a week. Abhida said I could have my old room back and I have to say it is a little like coming home. Tamal, Tapan, Kaushik, Abhi and Smriti were here waiting for me with a cold beer, a delicious meal and a warm welcome.

I walked up to Rashbehari yesterday and bought a few supplies, some fruit, bread, milk. So easy.

Stains on my Chintz closes on Wednesday, after having had a lot of people through the show over the last seven weeks. I have to sort out some freight issues and coming here myself was the easier option than trying to do things by email and phone. It will also be some time before I can jump on a plane and be here in under four hours. Sydney seems like a long way away.

It is so nice to be back at Khoj, though I miss Teresa not being here. This is something she made while working for the Chintz show. Two beautiful woven pieces made up from the offcuts of her large wall installation 'Language Curling in on Itself'. Teresa's weavings are a lovely reminder of the days we worked here in the studio.

The Harrington Street Arts Centre has posted images from the show, and I have attached a link here. It's a little clunky but worth looking through the work and Paula's essay.

http://www.hstreetartscentre.com/Exhibitions/Current.aspx?EvtId=989cfae5-5534-4805-9336-fd00b9adf98e