image above: Mehrauli Archeological Park, Delhi, India
I have been reading excerpts from Nasreen Mohamedi’s diaries to try to get into her head/eyes/mind. Her diaries are reproduced in the book “Nasreen in Retrospect.” Here are a few of her daily entries:
4th July 1967 “Where do I stand in relation to space and thought The layers in Indian sculpture, in Arabic calligraphy In waves – in connection with my work”
13th July 1969, London “When looking at painting Sculpture or anything – examine each contour Each dot, surface.
18th July 1969 “Study the EYE SPACE Observe some objects in Different light A cosmic rhythm with Each stroke Sounds and Vibrations”
There are three new posts which show a few of the structures, sculptures and paintings that I have been photographing/contemplating/and not yet drawing. India is so seductive. It is difficult to think and make art like Nasreen even though this is what I have set out to do. I realize how much she has reduced things. India is so NOT REDUCTIVE, it is so expansive. There is so much beauty and ugliness in abundance everywhere. I have been overwhelmed by the Indian art and architecture I have been seeing and studying. Being here makes me think of Nasreen’s work as all the more phenomenal – because it is so pure, so refined in this cacophony of India.
I have been going out to take pictures in various places. I photographed some of the ruins at the Mehrauli Archeological Park, a beautiful “stepwell” there and also the stunning tower of Qutb Minar. At the National Museum in Delhi I was overwhelmed by the sculptures – from all different eras, of course the Buddha’s. I have been researching once again the Devi or Goddess figures in sculpture and in painting. I have found some of the images of Devi in the Basohli/Pahari paintings from the 17th and 18th century at the National Museum. They have a huge collection of Indian Miniatures. I have studied these before – the lines, the colors are amazing and the energy is wild in these figures and paintings. Below are sets of some of these images I have been LOOKING at.
I have not started to draw yet. I am almost ready but truthfully a little intimidated by India and by Mohamedi.both. I am playing around with the black and white and the color. I have been here one week now, and I have a little more than 2 weeks left. There are three new posts below with images of Mehrauli Archeological Park and Qutb Minar, as well as some beautiful sculptures and some crazy Basohli Devi Paintings.
sherrywigginsblog 
Thanks for this just before we leave. You sound ready and this was a very informative blog, giving me more understanding of you both. Love, Suzie
LikeLike
Good. I am glad I sound clear to you. Hope your journey is safe.
love, Sherry
LikeLike
I’m not sure what to say, except that you are thoughtful, insightful and meeting these challenges bravely and head on. You and Nasreen will find each other and collaborate beautifully…soon.
LikeLike
Thanks Jennifer, you are right it does take some bravery. love, Sherry
LikeLike
Loving your black and white images. Guessing it must be hard to stay focused with so much stimulation. Miss you…Mindy
LikeLike
Thanks Mindy, I will keep exploring the black and white. love to you, Sherry
LikeLike
What compelled her compels you.
LikeLike
Thanks Cyd, yes I will see where she takes me…,Today I am going to look at some “contemporary” Indian art – hoping I will catch a glimpse of her.
love, Sherry
LikeLike
Hello, My name is Yael davids- enjoyed greatly you blog and text about Nasreen Mohamedi. We had a show in Van Abbemuseum – a Daily Practice , where we loaned photos and drawings of Mohamedi from the Kiran Nadar Musuem of Art in Delhi. We are currently working on a publication for the exhibition, where we are look at different fundaments/terms in different practices . One of them is The studio which turns to the daily practices of Mohamedi and Eshkol. We could not find any photos unless on the internet. Would you be kind enough to let us know where did you get the image of her studio from ? Thanks a lot Yaerl
LikeLike
Hello Yael. You can email me at sherrywiggins55@hotmail.com . As you can tell I did this research several years ago, both in New Delhi and at home in the US. I live in Boulder, Colorado, USA and all my records and files are there. Right now I am at an artists residency in Renkum near Wageningen in the Netherlands. It is the OBRAS Artist Residency. http://www.obras-art.org/ . I think that I got the images from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Massachussets. They are from a book that is very difficult to find called “Nasreen in Retrospect” published in 1996 by Mohamedi’s family after she died.. I have the pdf’s from the Peabody Essex Museum in my files at home in the USA. I will not be back to the USA until October 28th. I think you could contact the Peabody to get the pdfs sooner. Of course also, you should try to ask the Kiran Nadar Museum and Roobina Karode if she is still there. She is the expert on Nasreen Mohamedi. Good luck and let me know if I can help you later on when I am at home. Sherry Wiggins October 4th 2022
LikeLike