Page 133 - La Biennale di Venezia 2022 issue of World of Art Contemporary Art Magazine
P. 133
GRAMOPHONE, 2017 PAPER, INK, PEN, FELT-TIP PEN, MIXED MEDIA 59.4X84.1 IN. | 59.4X84.1 CM.
ART AND ARTISTS
HER NAME IS GAIFURIA, 2017 PAPER, INK, PEN 59.4X84.1 IN. | 59.4X84.1 CM.
ELMIRA HERREN
Lives and works in Bern, Switzerland
https://www.ellherren.com/
When I was a schoolgirl I used to draw at math class. Afterwards
my classmates would get interested in my drawings and so
it was impossible to continue the class. Later I realized that
I should have taken a special course on drawing and I spent
many years on the professional training. I used my drawing skills
while working as an interior designer decorating apartments,
restaurants, boutiques and salons. At the same time I was always
plunged into drawing, sometimes mounting personal exhibitions.
Once I happened to read Bhagavata Purana and it told that
demigods (inhabitants of the higher planets in Universe) travel by
airships made of flowers. I was greatly amazed! It made me think
a lot and I was trying to imagine it all in my head. That’s how my
first sketches came out. People became interested in them and I
went on making a series of drawings.
Each flower is a completed perfect form or system representing
a certain kind of character. The sacral geometry determines
the number of its petals, sprigs and curves. And in terms of
describing the beauty, a flower is a perfected harmonious form
of existence. Probably this way the form is employed by Devas
(the Demigods) to fly in higher levels of the Universe.
When you turn your hand to drawing and want to express an idea
with the use of simple means like paper and a pen, you never see
the whole picture at once. Usually there is one distinct idea, e.g. a
character or some particular traits, and the details come out within
the process of creation. Usually the best drawings are made
when you are “empty”. Then the idea enshrouds you and then
the process of creation begins. Background music, its tempo and
tonality, and mantra singing can contribute a lot here. As a result
you make up characters and their traits; you imagine how they
move; you think of their lifestyle and aspirations. Then you go on
with the habits and interests but you never focus on details since
they are always unpredictable and out of control.
When I start working on a new drawing I expect nothing but
harmonious creation. Then the music makes me slip into meditation
and very often when I finish my drawing I become quite astonished
by the result of the work. And it happens to be that my drawings
are like frozen music assuming various forms … All of them are
made up during the meditation process and my personal attitude is
practically excluded. Apparently for this reason people, who have
bought my drawings, admit that the drawings give them silence,
peace and mind appeasement, what inspires me greatly.
WORLD of ART 131