Ayurvedic Healing Art Series
"CHIKITSA MODERNE"
The below pieces were created in Phase I of "Chikitsa Moderne". "Chikitsa Moderne"is an art & writing initiative that explores ways in which the ancient spiritual science of Ayurveda can relieve contemporary suffering. ‘Chikitsa’ literally means ‘treatment plan’ in Sanskrit...and the term ‘Moderne’ pays reference to the contemporary context in which we dwell. The contrast honors the importance of ‘balance’ within Ayurveda and invites us to reflect on how this ancient medical science can serve as a modern-day ‘prescription’ for healing our collective mind, body & consciousness. Currently, Elisabeth is working on Phase II of Chikitsa Moderne that continues to explore ways in which Ayurveda can heal the individual body, societal body and entire eco-system, including Mother Earth. Expanding upon this initial series exhibited at The Ayurvedic Institute, Phase II will include mixed media paintings, photographs, written work, shadowboxes, installations & the creation of other eco-systems. Objectives include making Ayurveda contemporarily-relevant & culturally-accessible to the global community...through multi- sensory pieces that ‘speak’ to people across national, socio-economic, political, religious, sectoral & linguistic divides.
Integrative Medicine
Materials: X-ray of my left hand, turmeric
This photo-installation celebrates the powerful fusion of ayurveda and western conventional medicine. Thanks to a combination of the two, I am in remission from Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Restoration to Flight
Materials: x-ray of my left hand, a bird cut out from a local newspaper, gouache, pencil, prayer beads from the hospital's temple honoring the God of Healing
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This mixed-media collage depicts a limping bird that is restored to flight, thanks to an extended wingspan.
I created this mixed-media collage as a form of art therapy while undergoing medical treatment at the Ayurvedic Trust in Coimbatore, India.
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Vikasati
Detail
Materials: Gouache, flowers & grass from the hospital's temple of healing, photograph, khadi (hand spun cotton), velvet, handmade paper, treatment cloth
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“Vikasati” is embedded in Sanskrit and can be translated as ‘evolving’ or ‘blooming fully’.The piece is an homage to Ayurveda and the way in which it has nourished me on the level of body, mind & consciousness to bloom more fully into my authentic self.
The mixed-media gouache painting is on hand-made paper with photographs taken during Panchakarma (PK). These include a droni (massage table), masseuse arm & oil bottle, as well as preserved temple flower seedlings from a healing puja at the hospital’s temple, my khadi (Gandhian-spun cotton) towel, treatment cloth & black velvet. The piece depicts oil pouring from the masseuse’s hand onto a seed...that sprouts into a seedling...which then further evolves into a fully-blossoming flower.
This chronological passage of time represented by the flow of sneha (oil) along the droni’s horizon.... represents how Ayurveda shined a light on the seedling of my inner core during my first round of PK in 2012...And how yearly treatments continue to nourish me in a lovingly elegant, yet fiercely determined manner.
Svastha
Materials: pencil on tracing paper
Svastha Detail
The title of this drawing, "Svastha", is a sanskrit term which translates as, "Health" or "Seated in the self". Here, it appears I am meditating on a lilly pad. The synchronicity between myself and my surroundings is such that it is difficult to discern where I end and my surroundings begin. Looking more closely, the drawing reveals that I am actually at one with the lilly pad, my arms are lotus petals, and a fish coincides with my eye,. In this balanced state of health, boundaries blur and there is no "other". The sanskrit in the background is a quote from one of the Ayurvedic classical texts defining the term "Health/Seated in the Self".
"Healing" is a mixed media collage depicting an open wound. It contrasts Ayurveda's approach of digging deep & addressing the 'root cause' of ill health, while western conventional medicine might treat the same wound with a band-aid. The hands (laid on top of one-another) are taken from a photograph taken during an Ayurvedic medical massage in which warm medicated oil is applied to the body as part of the detoxification & healing process.
Healing
