depth

Thought behind the Thought

This quote is dedicated to my friend whose sensitive mind can reach the depths of anything! I continue to be amazed by her ability to think deeply about concepts and events and people, and find meaning where there is apparently, none!

And then I look at the world around, which seems to have stopped at the surface of everything. People do not want to even scratch the surface, leave alone unravel the depths of anything. What a shallow world, and what a priceless friend to have!

And I am sure that her explorations into the depth of things will help her scale the heights that she may not have even imagined! For, to scale the heights of a mountain peak,  one must have a good judgement of the depth of the valleys below.

About the Artist and his Art

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the first name that comes to my mind, when I say sensitivity and depth! Poet, writer, painter, musician, thinker, philosopher, educator, inspirer, Tagore remains one of the most influential of India's illustrious sons. Known as the person who gave us our National anthem, Tagore is and will always be remembered for his sensitivity, vision and expression.

Below are a few of his paintings (coloured ink on paper) and lines from 'Stray birds', his collection of short poems ( single lines and couplets). Just a few gems from the treasure he has left behind for us ....

 "Maiden, your simplicity, like the blueness of the lake, reveals your depth of truth."

"Woman, with the grace of your fingers you touched my things and order came out like music."

"Woman, in your laughter you have the music of the fountain of life."

 "I feel, thy beauty, dark night, like that of the loved woman when she has put out the lamp."

 Woman, thou hast encircled the world's heart with the depth of thy tears as the sea has the earth.

"This sadness of my soul is her bride's veil.

It waits to be lifted in the night."

"The sunshine greets me with a smile. The rain, his sad sister, talks to my heart."

" His own mornings are new surprises to God."

"The mist, like love, plays upon the heart of the hills and brings out surprises of beauty."

"The smell of the wet earth in the rain rises like a great chant of praise from the voiceless multitude of the insignificant."

"I Have dipped the vessel of my heart into this silent hour; it has filled with love."

Tagore himself, in his article 'My Pictures', explains his paintings as follows "The world of sound is a tiny bubble in the silence of the infinite. The Universe has its only language of gesture, it talks in the voice of pictures and dance. Every object in this world proclaims in the dumb signal of lines and colours, the fact that it is not a mere logical abstraction or a mere thing of use, but it is unique in itself, it carries the miracle of its existence. In a picture the artist creates the language of undoubted reality, and we are satisfied that we see. It may not be the representation of a beautiful woman but that of a common place donkey or of something that has no external credential of truth in nature but only in its own inner artistic significance.  

"People often ask me about the meaning of my pictures. I remain silent even as my pictures are. It is for them to express and not to explain. They have nothing ulterior behind their own appearance for the thoughts to explore and words to describe, and that appearance carries its ultimate worth. Then they remain, otherwise they are rejected and forgotten even though they may have some scientific truth or ethical justification. Love is kindred to art, it is inexplicable. Duty can be measured by the degree of its benefit, utility by the profit and power it may bring, but art by nothing but itself. There are other factors of life which are visitors that come and go. Art is the guest that comes and remains. The dithers may be important, but Art is inevitable."

In Tagore's own words, "The world speaks to me in colours, my soul answers in music". Obviously, the soul was very articulate with colours too. 

Credit and Source of information
http://www.ngmaindia.gov.in/sh-rabindranath.asp
http://www.indianartcircle.com/arteducation/Modernart6.shtml
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/r/rabindranath-tagore-poet-and-painter/
http://www.eldritchpress.org/rt/stray.htm