PROFILE OF A SACRED SPACE: BY SHAHERZAAD GILANI

KANDARIYA MAHADEVA TEMPLE
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Khajuraho is located in the heart of India in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is a fascinating village that used to be a prominent temple town during 900 AD and 1200 AD. Supposedly from the 85 temples built during this time period only 25 stand today, Kandariya Mahadeva is one of them. While researching about this sacred place I found that every source has a different date range for the building of the temple but the closest one I found is 1025-1050 AD. This temple sits west to Lakshmana temple. It is the 30 meters tall and the largest and most complex of the Khajuraho temples. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built by Vidyadhara, one of the Chandela Kings. The temple’s name consists of the word Kandariya, meaning “cave” and Mahadeva, another name for Lord Shiva.
ARCHITECHTURAL DESIGN:
As mentioned earlier, Kandariya Mahadeva temple is 30 m (100 feet) above the platform which it shares with the older Devi Jagadambi temple. Even though the four subsidiary shrines do not exist anymore, the middle one is still intact and is in a great condition. The temple has about 900 statutes; around 226 are inside the temple while nearly 464 are outside. These sculptures cover every part of the temple and include beautiful carvings of gods, goddess, dancers, musicians and beautiful women. The basic symbols used in these sculptures are of male and female sexuality. As mentioned in our text book: “Many of the carvings on the structure are openly erotic... The Hindu religion openly celebrates sexual love as erotic coupling and self-pleasuring reflect the divine union with the Unbounded.”
HARMONY WITH NATURE:
The temple was built to resemble the rising peaks of Himalayan Mountain. In the history of Hindu culture people believe that Lord Shiva loved nature. The surroundings of the temple look pretty quiet and away from the noise of daily life. People who come to visit the temple can peacefully connect with god and relate themselves in one way or other with the day to day life depicting sculptures.
SYMBOLISM AND SACRED OBJECTS:
The main topic of discussion amongst the visitors is, what is the purpose of carving such erotic/erotic sculptures on the building of a temple. Different theories are found in the literature that justifies the sculptures in different ways. One of the theories says that during that period of time boys had to follow the Hindu law of being “brahmacharis” until they attained manhood. The only way for the boys to prepare themselves for the worldly role of “householder” was through the study of these sculptures. A different theory states that the reason for showing such details of the day to day activities in the form of art is to portray what normal people did in their lives every day. Another theory states that art was used as an effort to bring followers back from the aesthetic Buddhism to normal Hindu life.
HOW IT IS USED BY WORSHIPPERS:
The temples of Khajuraho suffered destruction by early Muslim invaders, visible through the disfigured figures at the temple. Khajuraho lost its importance in 1500 AD. The temples of Khajuraho were restored back in the nineteenth century. Out of the 85 temples built during that era only 25 have been restored and preserved. Kandariya Mahadeva temple is not used for worship anymore. Only two of the twenty five temples restored are used for worship today. Today, Kandariya Mahadeva temple is an ultimate tourist stop. Khajuraho has a rich cultural heritage and it also serves as an example of Indian architectural styles. Kandariya Mahadeva temple has gained popularity due to the depiction of the traditional portrayal of sexual life in medieval times.
SOURCES:
http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/khajuraho/khakan2.html
http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit04172000/history.asp
http://www.indianetzone.com/1/khajuraho_india.htm
Exploring Art, A Global, Theamatic Approach

Profile of a Sacred Space: Courtney Gray

Notre Dame du Haut

General Description
The Notre Dame du Haut, a Catholic chapel located in Ronchamp, France deep within the Vosges Mountains is considered to many of the Catholic faith as a pilgrimage site. However, the Notre Dame du Haut is also known for its connection with nature, symbolism and unique architectural design. In fact it is often considered to be one of the greatest buildings of modern architecture of the 20th century. The chapel was constructed in somewhere between 1950 and 1955, by Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect, after the former structure was destroyed in World War II. Today the structure is “an icon of religious architecture” attracting tourist from all over the world.
Architectural Design
Notre Dame du Haut’s unique architectural elements, causes this structure to immediately stand out from afar. The Notre Dame du Haut is fairly small in size. Inside there is a main alter, three side chapels, and an outdoor sanctuary. It is constructed asymmetrically, made primarily of concrete and contains thick curved walls, giving it a sculptural form. The building has two main walls that are connected by a third wall that rises as it reaches the corner. This gives the building its interesting shape and its sloping roof effect. Connecting to the wall are three towers, adding to the interesting shape of the building. The floor follows the natural slope of the hill, towards the altar. The Notre Dame du Haut’s interesting shape is not the only thing that causes this building to stand out architecturally. The clear small irregular windows within the thick walls, give a dim, but alluring light effect. Le Corbusier’s use of interesting shapes and angles are what identify this as one of the greatest buildings of modern architecture.
Harmony with Nature
Notre Dame du Haut’s location immediately harmonizes it with surrounding nature. The chapels isolated placement atop a hill surrounded by beautiful mountains, give it a spiritual and breathtaking view of nature, and of the town of Ronchamp below. The horizon is visible from all directions of the hill. The abundance of clear windows, also allow those inside to experience the beauty of nature surrounding the chapel, and the illuminating light from the sun. All of these elements of nature help create, a spiritual connection and place of worship.
Symbolism with Sacred Objects
The Notre Dame du Haut includes many religious symbols which make it even more of a unique sacred space. In regards to the structure, the design is said to resemble the wings of a dove, the shape of a boat, or praying hands, all sacred religious symbols. The interesting use of light throughout the chapel could also be used to symbolize the presence of a divine being. A wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary above the altar, symbolizes the Virgin Mary’s presence and protection over the chapel.
Use by Worshipers
Although the Notre Dame du Haut is considered a popular Catholic pilgrimage destination, today it is used more for a tourist attraction than it is for actual worship ceremonies. However, when worship ceremonies are held, because of the small capacity indoors, the outdoor altar and pulpit are often use, and can hold up to twelve thousand on the lawn, creating a beautiful spiritual background with the structure, and the beautiful landscape surrounding it.

Sources
1)Chan, Michelle M. "Notre-Dame-du-Haut - Le Corbusier." School of Architecture. McGill University, 14 Feb. 2000. Web. 08 Apr. 2010..
2)Demel, Scott. "Why Ronchamp?" www.demel.net. 2004. Web. 8 Apr. 2010.
3)Lazzari, Margaret R., and Dona Schlesier. Exploring Art: a Global, Thematic Approach. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005. Print.
4)Stathaki, Ellie, and Henrietta Green. "Great Modern Buildings: Notre Dame Du Haut | Art and Design | The Guardian." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 18 Oct. 2007. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. .

Saint Catherine Monastery at Mount Sinai by Caitlin Hall

The Saint Catherine Monastery is a very sacred place located on the Sinai Peninsula. This religious sight is well known for many different reasons. The sight of the monastery has religious significance for many different religions. The Chapel at the monastery is built around the sight of the Burning Bush where Moses spoke to Jesus, and at the bottom of Mount Sinai where it is believed Moses received the tablets with the Ten Commandments. The Chapel of the Burning Bush was built by St. Helena in the early 4^th century. Then, around 527, the byzantine emperor Justinian built the great walls around the chapel. Then around 560 the workers of Justinian built the Church of the Transfiguration. The Monastery was originally known as the Monastery of the Transfiguration but was renamed after St. Catherine of Alexandria.

The architecture of the monastery is different according to whom each part was built by. The great walls surrounding the chapel are made of Granite blocks. Inscribed into these walls are different crosses and monograms to symbolize the worshipper’s beliefs. The Church of the Transfiguration is the main church at the monastery, the churches structures are all originals from when it was first built in 527. The monastery has many other parts to it such as, monk’s cells, a bell-tower, a garden and cemetery. The library in the monastery has many manuscripts and early codices with numbers only less than those of the Vatican Library. The library also has a collection of icons of Christ, Mary and many of the saints displayed in a special gallery. These icons are a great example of scared objects that can be found in the Monastery. The monastery makes up the whole Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai.

The monastery is built right into the Sinai Peninsula and is focused around the sight of the burning bush. There is still a bush that is believed to be a descendant of the original bush seen by Moses. This bush is probably one of the most sacred objects at the Monastery. Inside the chapels, there are many mosaics, paintings and other artworks representing Christ, the Virgin Mary and many saints. The Ark of Christian art is also a big symbol of faith that can be found in the monastery.

Worshippers have seen the sight of the Monastery as very sacred. It has high importance to Christians, Muslims and Jewish followers. The fathers still respect the site as an Ark of Faith and protect it with self-sacrifice. Other people who come to the Monastery in search of guidance and spiritual help bring gifts. The Monks of the monastery also, have kept up a dedication to prayer in the monastery. The Bedouin people who inhabit the area around the monastery see it as their “Great Protector”. It is a highly revered religious sight and in 2002 was deemed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The religious significance of the sight, to so many different religions, makes it a very well-known and well respected site. To visit the Monastery, most enter through Cairo and have to take a bus or drive the rest of the way to the Monastery.

Sources:

1. Hayes, Holly. "St. Catherine's Monastery". Sacred Destinations. April 4, 2010 .

2. "The Holy Monastery of the Mount Sanai". April 4, 2010 .

FORMAL ANALYSIS OF BODIES-THE EXHIBITION
INDIVIDUAL MUSEUM ASSIGNMENT BY SHAHERZAAD GILANI

For this assignment I chose to visit “Bodies-The Exhibition”. My visit to the exhibition was amazing and fascinating. Since it was a body exhibition, I cannot choose one body because they are all the same just presented in a different manner each time. The exhibition featured whole and partial body specimens displaying the complexity of human body. The most alluring aspect of this exhibition was the manner in which each body was presented and preserved. Each cadaver exposed a different aspect of the human body.
First I wasn’t sure if I want to do my art project on this exhibit but after giving it a little bit of thought I decided to go with it because I think that human body is explicitly a walking proof of art. After visiting the exhibition I can say that the art of human body can never be appreciated enough. The way in which every nerve and every blood vessel is integrated around all the organs, muscles and bones in the body is just remarkable.
The exhibition was divided in to various sections, for example: digestive system, respiratory system, nervous system, circulatory system, reproductive system, fetus growth, etc. The exhibition as a whole was very captivating but one section I liked the most was the fetus growth. This area touched me the most in the entire exhibition. This section of the exhibition demonstrated a fetus growth from week one till the baby was delivered. It was amazing to witness how the fetal growth starts out with an egg and becomes a 6-7lb baby. The section also contained the body of a new born baby.
One of the cadaver’s was cut in to four pieces longitudinally, displaying all the organs of the body including sections of brain, heart, lungs, intestine etc. Another cadaver displayed all the muscles of the body. Also there were individual organs displayed in glass cases. Lungs, kidney, brain, liver and heart were some of the specimens put on show. It was fascinating for me to actually be able to look at these organs in reality, since I am biology major student, we learn about these organs in our classes all the time. These little organs perform so many different functions at a time that it was incredible to see the actual composition of these organs. It is artistic to be able to perform different functions at a time regardless of the size of these organs.
I think all the bodies presented in the exhibit were in balance. Since each cadaver showed a different aspect of the human body the balance was kept in different ways. Each cadaver was emphasizing a unique feature of human body. For example: one of the cadavers displayed the muscle system while another cadaver showed the human digestive system.
The entire exhibition was artfully compiled and thoughtfully presented to the audience. Visiting this exhibition was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. Human body is simple, yet intricate and most of all it is beautifully put together.

Formal Analysis of "Wheelabout"- Nancy Graves

Individual Museum Assignment: Courtney Gray

I chose to visit the Museum of Modern Art in Fort Worth for this project. During my visit, I found many pieces of artwork that were very interesting. I was able to use the knowledge from this class in order to gain a greater appreciation for the many different pieces of art this museum had to offer.. The museum had many forms of art including sculpture, portraits, photography, etcetera. However there was one piece that caught my eye in particular.

For this assignment I chose to focus on an abstract sculpture by Nancy Graves, titled “Wheelabout” constructed in 1985. This piece grabbed my attention at first because of its vibrant colors and interesting shapes, however as I examined it more thoroughly I noticed many other principles and elements of art that made this piece special.

“Wheelabout” is constructed from an additive process, out of bronze and stainless steel and coated with polyurethane paint. (Museum of Modern Art Fort Worth) As seen in the photograph below, “Wheelabout” includes an S curve made out of stainless steel and chains. This S curve stands on a platform with 3 wheels. It “combines shapes and forms from nature with objects found in everyday life”.(Museum of Modern Art Ft Worth) “Wheelabout” includes moveable parts, such as the clothes hanger piece hanging from the end of the S curve, and the wheels. The use of such different materials would lead me to believe that the piece would look very disconnected; however Graves did a very good job at creating a sense of connectedness.

“Wheelabout’s” curved shape gives this piece character, alludes to movement, and creates balance throughout the piece. The most obvious shape is the giant S curve, which takes up most of the space in the piece, creating emphasis in the piece. The S curve being placed on top of the platform with wheels, sort of makes this piece look like a very oddly shaped, colorful, bicycle. Different geometric shapes are very obvious in this piece, with the S curve, the circular wheels, and rectangular platforms. The use of so many distinct geometric shapes and colors could arguably make the piece seem afocal, however the S curves continually drew my eyes toward it, due to its large size and a shape that creates so much movement. The use of various different and uniquely shaped materials keeps your eyes moving from one place to another creating movement throughout the piece.

Lines are also used in this piece to create a sense of movement. Curves are abundantly used in this piece, along with straight lines within the S curve, and straight lines within the wheels themselves. These lines within the piece helped guide my eyes in a circular motion. The use of curves and straight lines together helped me to visualize the sense of movement almost like a bicycle would. The use of line helped to give a stationary object a sense of movement.
I found that these interesting shapes and lines created an interesting view of light. Although there was not much light available in the area of which the work was displayed in the museum, I could see how the shapes and lines could create interesting shadows through lines, to create a sense of depth.

One of the first thing you notice when you see this sculpture are the vibrant uses of color. Several colors I noticed were bright blue, pink, yellow, and red. The intensity and tone of these colors creates a very warm and exciting mood and helps direct our eyes all over the piece, while the curved shape helps to regain focus, movement and balance.

The use of all of these elements together helped create a sense of rhythm, the use of color, line, and shape all seem to unify each of these distinct parts into one to help create this movement and balance in this piece.

I chose this piece, not only because of its immediate way of grabbing my attention, but because of its unique way of using elements, principles and technique to create a piece not only aesthetically appealing but through provoking.

Wheelabout: Nancy Graves (1985)

Photo in Front of Museum of Modern Art Ft. Worth

Admission Ticket