When the Spirit meets the Bones
Spirit is the intangible essence that gives subjectivity to the body. The body is a medium through which we channel the spirit. When the spirit and the bone meet, inanimate objects gain value and expression. This project examines ‘symbolism’ in Indian mythology, drawn from art forms, narratives, beliefs and everyday observation.
The story begins with an eclipse, introducing dark creatures we associate with evil intentions called asuras or rakshasa. Progressive forces of nature overcome them like the devas. We personify objects based on their inherent qualities. That is how we have expressions like, “bottom of my heart” or “gut feeling”.
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Research
We use non-human beings to symbolize ideas that can’t be shown literally, like “Curiosity killed the cat,” “a sly fox,” or “a brave lion.” Contemporary artists and astrology also use animal symbols, while Buzzfeed offers fun quizzes to find our spirit animals. From history to today, we continually seek to decode spirits through iconography, art forms, and other practices.