Recently, in the Art Studio, Florence Walker held a class on the art of clay. Meera Srinivasan joined the class and began to create. Florence was so impressed by what resulted, that she contacted us, and we went to visit the artist. What we found was a true example of folk art, which at its best represents a reference point to something larger than the art itself. In this instance, Meera’s art represents the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu), located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. This was the temple that Meera and her family knew as she grew up. Covering 155 acres — with 81 shrines, 21 towers, and 39 pavillions — the temple, itself 236 feet tall, is the largest and one of the oldest surviving active temple complexes in South India.
Meera has done what good folk artists do: create something small to represent something much larger, referencing the distinct qualities of that much larger referent.
The first picture that follows is of the temple as it stands today. Following that are pictures of Meera’s work. First is a picture taken from the front of her work — representing, in colorful bands, the amazing statues adorning the temple. The second image shows the interior within the wall which surrounds the entire complex. That inner courtyard contains decorative elements in the corners, but also tall structures that are representative of the lamps lit as part of worship. The path leading up to the temple and behind it is also part of worship. These are followed by pictures of temple details.
If you would like to know more about the temple and the temple complex — its history and its design — here are a couple of sources: