The September Challenge reveal Art Elements. is inspired by Faeries. When I read the post I knew that I would be participating in it. I thought of doing something on the lines of my Pixie dust collection with a Faerie image. But the inspiration post had many thought provoking images that pointed to other religious stories and folklore.
Of Faeries, Apsaras and Shilabalikas
However, Hinduism does not really have the concept of faeries, fairies or angels. Apart from Gods (Goddesses) and DemiGods there are celestial beings like Apsaras and gandharvas whose power is seduction. These women and men remain eternally young and beautiful. They can fly, appear and disappear at will and are well versed in 64 different arts and crafts. Then there are Yakshas and Yakshis, nature spirits who are usually benevolent and worshipped as fertility symbols. They can be mischievous tricksters (like Fae) or sexually aggressive wealth protectors. There are rare darker entities that mate, kill and drink blood as well.
The final category is that of stylised human forms who are dancers and courtesans posing as yakshis and nymphs. These forms such as Shilabalikas and Madanakai can be typically seen as temple sculpture, used both for decoration and the representation (documentation) of the culture of the period in which the temple was built. They are the forms that I chose for this challenge.
Form and Stylisation
You might wonder why I chose stylised forms over faeries for my reveal; here is why. In the days I taught costume appreciation I would use images of statues to explain the evolution of dress. But in the process I would also tell my students to question if the theory of dress prevalent in the society at a point in time could be understood by looking at these images. When they replied in affirmative, I would ask them to compare their own selves or photographs with the stylised fashion illustrations that they draw. I would ask them to imagine a future 100 years from now. One where people would look at these surviving illustrations and conclude that this is how their ancestors must have looked in 2018. That would be strange and funny, wouldn’t it?
In my opinion, an image looks beautiful because it is portrayed that way. For instance you could make a cruel witch or a trickster look soft and beautiful in a painting or a sculpture. You could make an ordinary woman look like a celestial nymph as well. It is simply a matter of stylisation. So purely, in terms of form, a nymph or a faerie is no different from an ordinary person. What we believe we know about them, their backstories makes them different from each other.
Shilabalika
So coming back to stylised forms, Shilabalikas are stylised female forms portrayed next to or under a tree. Also known as Salabhanjikas (when standing next to a sala tree), they are extraordinarily beautiful. They are also known by other names like Madanakai or madanika meaning beautiful woman. They are all fertility symbols (based on old Buddhist legends) who are said to make a tree bloom (fertile) by touching it. Their pose, dress and adornment are suggestive of their powers of seduction. But they are also considered extremely chaste. They are instrumental in adding love, beauty, and life in this world. In my opinion there are not really different from Apsaras other than the fact that these women are mortal.
As temple sculptures they appear as dancers and musicians either performing or getting ready for a performance. The concept of “Alamkara – adornment of self” is highlighted here. All the figures that I have used for my Shilabalika necklaces are bracket sculptures found at the 12th century AD Chennakesavaperumal temple in Belur. Their forms is said to have been inspired by that of Shantala Devi the Queen of Raja Vishnuvardana who commissioned this temple.
Shilabalika necklaces
To create my two Shilabalika necklaces, I made resin pendants of the sculptural forms. I looped faux pearls and beads on coloured artisan wire. I used earthy colours like ochre, brown, sienna, copper, bronze, offwhite, amber with accents of dull green and pink to create two similar yet eclectic pieces.
The first necklace that I created in the series of Shilabalika necklaces is the Darpana sundari necklace that you see below. Having used bright shocking colours for it, I wanted the other necklaces to have a soft worn-in feeling of being centuries old. Hence I used pastels and earthtones.
Darpana Sundari Necklace
The words “Darpana Sundari” mean a beautiful lady with a mirror. She is in the process of adorning herself to get ready for a performance. When I first looked at the image of the sculpture, I started to imagine how she would have actually looked. A beautiful curvy woman with flawless skin and luscious hair decorated with flowers. Her necklace and earrings studded with emeralds and sapphires. Her Mekala and patka (hip ornaments) shimmering with opalescent pearls contrasting her antariya (lower garment) in rich blues and golds. As she got dressed under the bright green sala tree she would have looked celestial.
This imagination of the attire and look of Darpana Sundari led to this necklace. I used rich blues and green to contrast the browns and grays of the sculpture. I added a little verdigris patina around the pendant’s rim as well. All three necklaces are a part of my Parampare series and available at Coolture Designs.
Art Elements Challenge – Faerie Bookmark
Though I was immensely satisfied with my Shilabalika necklaces, I felt that I had digressed from the theme of the challenge. So I made a bookmark/tag. I printed a piece of scrap paper using bubble wrap which I further layered with several textures. I then collaged images of a rose faerie and the word “Believe” and glued a patterned cardstock at the back. To add relief I added a torn newspaper bit.
To experiment with more textures I added a lace frill to the bottom of the tag and ribbon tassel to the other making it a sort of a bookmark. I sealed the tag with coats of matt Mod podge. I also used one final coat of MP glitter to match the shimmer of the lace frill.
Greek Garden Faerie
I was super-duper busy this month but I managed to do one more thing to show you. I did a quick draping/styling and basic makeup demo in class this past week for my fashion styling class. My model turned out looking like a little Greek garden fairy without wings ofcourse. She is wearing a draped green saree, my beetle wings earrings, beanstalk ring and my water drop earrings (in her hair). I wish I had better images to show as these were taken with my cellphone while the model was busy posing to another student who was photographing her. It’s another story that those photographs turned out worse.
These are my experiments with the Shilabalika necklaces and stylised female forms. I hope they brought about a different view of form and stylisation of form. If you notice, my bookmark faerie doesn’t have wings as well. At the outset she does not look like she has powers. She is just a beautiful woman who believes in herself and her power to make a difference through love and beauty like the shilabalikas.
This is the first AJE reveal where I have dabbled in different forms of representations – jewellery, tag and styling. Yay, Happy Dance! Please do tell me what you think of them in the comments. How do you see form, its abstraction and stylisation?Also, this is a blog hop. Please visit the other participants as well to see how other designers have interpreted this theme.
Participants
I hope you find it interesting
Cheers
36 responses to “Shilabalika necklaces and stylised female forms”
What a fascinating post, I really enjoyed reading about your interpretation of theme. Your jewels are beautiful, I love the colours in each design, the same with the bookmark. And I’m thrilled to see you created a real life fairy! Thank you for taking part in the challenge!
Haaa.. a real life fairy? Now that is an interesting thought. Had it struck me earlier, I would have gotten her to pose like one 😀
What a wonderful post! It was so interesting to see another point of view about what fairies can be.
Your necklaces are so beautiful, too. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for dropping by Cat. I hope you enjoyed reading the post
I loved reading your blog. All those different references and interpretations of magic/fae/dieties. I really enjoy finding out about different cultures and how around the world the ideas of life are so similar yet so different. Thank you for such a wonderful detailed post and for the beautiful photos of your work as well as your beautiful model.
Thanks Laney. That is a great point. There are several similarities and differences reg the idea of life in different cultures
I love the direction you went with this theme & giving others insight and leaving feeling inspired and more intellectual – Thank You!
Thanks Marsha for that wonderful and thoughtful compliment
Wow! I love how you integrate some history and culture into your posts. Interesting to see the similiarities of the different cultures.
The shilabalika necklaces are so lovely. I would love to see them up close. And that sweet bookmark is beautiful.
Thanks Cathy. I find it easy to play to my strengths when I am caught up in a lot of work. I really do want to do a proper fairy theme piece soon
For a busy month, you got so much accomplished!! The earthy hues in your first two necklaces give them such a woodland vibe. I like how you approached the other necklace by imagining what she would be wearing. It evolved into a beautiful piece. And, the bookmark looks like it was a lot of fun to make. Oddly enough, I woke up this morning wanting to make a bookmark too. Ha! Anyway, as always, you’ve blown this challenge out of the water with your unique take on it.
Yes Hope, you have got it bang on. I did want a woodland feeling after doing a piece that was so rich and vibrant. The bookmark felt satisfying as I made one after a long time. You should definitely make one; I would love to see yours.
Thank you for teaching me something new! I love that you tried new things as well! Your necklaces are beautiful and definitely represent how diverse the idea of fairies is. I loved seeing a little into your Non-Jewelry life, too. Beautiful!
I am so glad that you found it interesting. I often think about writing about my non-jewelry activities but seldom find the time to do so.
When I saw your name on the blog list for this challenge, I knew I was going to learn fascinating details and see beautiful jewelry. Your story telling is very engaging and I always enjoy reading your blog. I love the choice of earthy beads and colors for your necklaces as they are perfect for the mood of the pendants. I also enjoyed your insights into our ideas about how people must have dressed and lived based on stylized statutes and models.
Oh Tammy! So sweet of you to say that. I hope that I have met your expectations. I see past differently than other people. I tend to look at it in terms of present and future so I get these ideas.
What a wonderful collection of things you created I love that you took the theme and made it work for you!
Thank you so much Niky. I loved your illustration too but I am unable to comment on your blog.
I like how you interpreted this challenge in several ways with jewelry, the bookmark and styling, all lovely!
Thanks Ann, I was inspired by the AJE team who explore do many different mediums
Divya, thanks for another post relating your culture. I enjoy reading each one. Your interpretation and explanations of fairies & co. give one reason to pause and reflect. And might I just say that for a busy month you found time to do several awesome projects!! Kudos!! I was so tired after each day of cleaning and organizing I couldn’t even pick up my wire and make something tangible.
I consider jewellery making as therapy. It is what has kept me sane this September. I hope you get to complete your idea soon
Really enjoyed reading your post, your necklaces are beautiful
Thank you Jill
Now I know what these women from popular tourist souvenirs are called – Shilabalikas! The necklaces are eclectic, indeed! The bookmark looks as interesting as a book with lots of beautiful elements and meaning but the real innovation here is the styling, at least I don’t recollect this “media” to have been used for any challenge! Good for you!
Thank you. I didn’t know the images were used for tourist souvenirs. I must thank my client for introducing them to me earlier this year. I actually didn’t realise that I could show my styling work until after I published the post. I do have quite a few “demo looks” that I have done over the years. Maybe I will share them in future posts.
Wonderful! You didnt deviate from the theme – you interpreted the theme! That sis the joy of having these broader challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed reading that – and you necklaces are lovely. I like the muted palettes quite a bit!
Thanks for the reassuring comment Jenny. I often take things too far and struggle to bring it back. So that is why I like AJE challenges as well as its offers that space
I really enjoyed reading your post it was fascinating, the necklaces are beautiful
Thanks Victoria. I am glad you found it interesting
I learned a lot reading your blog. Your necklace is just gorgeous. I took a look at your fairy bookmark. It is so sweet.
Thanks Kathy for your lovely comment. It makes me so glad
Quite an Infomative Blog, So culture oriented and very essentric , Cheers! Keep it up 🙂
Thanks Akshay
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