Description
The Goddess Devi, the primordial Shakti, is a revelation of the eternal Brahman in a maternal aspect, worshipped with unmatched fervor during the autumnal festival of Durga Pujo in Bengal every year.
In this magnificent volume, Peter Bjørn Franceschi presents a photographic exploration of the mother goddess in the making. It is a visual diary documenting the clay idols of Goddess Durga, tracing their journey from abstract conception to finished divine form. The book takes readers through the winding, atmospheric lanes of Kumartuli, home to the master artisans who have occupied a centuries-old caesura between devotion and art.
Accompanying these evocative photographs are verses from Sankaracharya’s poetic masterpiece, Saundaryalahari (Waves of Beauty), beautifully translated by scholar Minati Kar. The work is a paean to Goddess Durga, intertwining Advaita Vedanta and Tantra philosophy to paint a splendid picture of the Devi—from the crown of her head to her divine feet. These poetic descriptions serve as a profound layer to the visuals, offering an alternate, spiritual way of interpreting the process of image-making. Delving deep into both the philosophical and artistic aspects of divinity, this volume is a visual celebration of the Goddess and her devoted creators.
Table of Contents (Selected Highlights):
- Preliminaries: Foreword, Editor’s Prelude, Introduction
- Devirupayana: Tracing the Divine Form (From Kiritam [Crown] to Caranau [Feet])
- Dasamahavidya: The Myth and the Ten Goddesses (Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhuvanesvari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, Kamala)
- Nature of Kali & Nimajjana
- Appendix: Dhyanamantra, Ornaments of Durga, Arms in Action, Mudras, Multiple Appearances, and Epithets
About the Contributors:
Peter Bjørn Franceschi is a Danish visual artist working across Copenhagen, Kolkata, and southern France. Trained as a glass artist at the Danish School of Design, he now works in a wide range of media. His compelling work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across Europe, the Middle East, and India.
Minati Kar is a noted scholar who provided the translations for the Saundaryalahari verses used in this volume.
Moulding the Void: Mother in the Making
By Peter Bjørn Franceschi | Translations by Minati Kar
Book Specifications:
- Category: Photography / Art & Culture
- Pages: 284 pages
- Illustrations: 192 photographs
- Dimensions: 8.25 x 9.7″ (210 x 247 mm), Hardcover (hc)
- ISBN: 978-93-85360-42-8
- Date of Publishing: 2019
- Language: English
- Publisher: Mapin Publishing
