The Devi Series

I want to celebrate the Devi in all of us. 
To me, these handcrafted Devi masks represent that unique divinity in each of us.
“Devi” is the sanskrit word for Goddess. However, there is no neat line separating Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism. In fact, there are no neat lines in Hinduism at all! According to Devdutt Pattanaik, a leading mythologist, “Hinduism is a complex mixture of sublime Vedic philosophies, dogmatic Brahmanical rituals, Yogic mysticism, Tantrik occultism, fertility cults, monastic orders, pagan customs and the belief in one God who manifests as innumerable divine beings”. This polytheistic yet monotheistic, pagan yet not, essence of Hinduism makes it impossible to define. Fluidity, diversity, nature, subjectivity, creativity - these are the words that describe the essence of Hinduism. And this fluidity is what allows our subjective truths, our Goddesses, to be manifested in multitudinous diverse forms, each form as unique as each of us.
"Maa Kaali" Mask

Acrylic on handmade clay mask, oval 12" x 6"

Original currently on exhibition at
​The Holi Art Exhibition
​at Bridge Art Gallery, Bayonne, NJ
This Maa Kali mask is the form of the Devi that represents unbridled energy (Shakti), raw nature. The fearsome image of a naked Devi
with unbound hair, tongue extended, with a garland of skulls
and drinking blood, forces us to face our fears and transcend them.
Devdutt Pattanaik explains this beautifully in this extract
from an article he wrote:
“...what is the point of wisdom if divorced from the world? Wisdom
is meaningless if it does not enable the liberation of those
who are trapped in fear. That is why the Goddess stands in opposition
of Shiva (the God who sits with eyes shut, immersed in the infinite bliss of an unfettered consciousness), as both the radiant Gauri,
producing light, and as the dark Kali, consuming light.
While Shiva sits still in the north, she comes forth swaying
from the south as Dakshina-Kali, demanding to be seen.
​Nature will not be ignored.”​​
"Yellamma Devi" Mask

Acrylic on handmade clay mask, oval 12" x 6"

SOLD
She is ‘Yellamma’ or everyone’s mother. A Devi for all the shades between male and female. This vision of Her came to me around
the time India scrapped a colonial-era law and decriminalized gay sex.
I am no scholar; I just believe that all have the right to be their own unique divine selves. This Devi is the beloved goddess of eunuchs
in India. Her story tells of a woman who harbors a single adulterous thought and is punished brutally by her husband, only to return
as a mother-goddess, beyond the control of patriarchal society,
​who may simultaneously be the radiant, domestic Gauri, and
the dark, wild Kali!
​
"Meenakshi Devi" Mask

Acrylic on handmade clay mask, circlular 7.5" x 6"

Original currently on exhibition at
The Holi Art Exhibition
​at Bridge Art Gallery, Bayonne, NJ
“Meena” means fish and “Akshi” means eyes in Tamil. This fish-eyed form of the Devi comes from the ancient myth of a Princess
of South India, raised in the royal arts and sciences and succeeding
her father to the throne. As queen, she decided to go on a conquest
of all of south and north India, looking for a man whom she deemed worthy of being her husband. After defeating all the kings she meets
on her travels, she finally meets Shiva, (the God who sits atop Mount Kailash, with eyes shut, immersed in the infinite bliss of an unfettered consciousness), reveals herself as none other than Shakti, and brings
​him home to her city in South India, to be her husband.
​
"Jal Devi" Mask

Acrylic on handmade clay mask, oval 12" x 6"

SOLD
“Jal” is the Hindi word for water.  Jal Devi emerged from my studies
of water surfaces.  The play between the creatures and plants of the deep
​and those on the surface fascinate me. She is the Devi of the oceans:
that which we came from and will return to. The push and pull
between the clear and blurry elements in water bodies mesmerise me.  
​I have layered the paint to create depth and nebulous beauty.
​
"Ratri Devi" Mask

Acrylic on handmade clay mask, circular 7.5" x 6"

SOLD
Ratri Devi is the goddess of the night (Ratri means night) in the Vedas and the mythology of India and Hinduism. She came about when I created
her swirling loops of braids and no mouth. Rumi's words about love were perfect for the night time stillness that I wanted to express. 
The night sky feels like pure love to me. We are all stardust.  Ratri Devi is my way of honoring that vast, endless love ​that I feel when I look up
at the stars and spot planets etc. The words on her are "Love said to me there is nothing that is not me.  Be Silent." 
Rumi implies such an all abiding love that permeates everything.  Nothing need be said.  No need for words, no matter how poetic. 
And the night sky feels like this to me.  Pure Silent Love.