In this work I use archetypal and ancient Indian ideas and iconographies to try and describe or reflect a contemporary idea of meditation. The colours blue and gold hold universal resonance with the transcendent and the sacred and in India the colour blue is especially associated with Vishnu – particularly in his incarnation as Krishna. Unlike the lotus, which also holds sacred resonances, associated as it is with the concept of purity (something beautiful and perfect that can survive, thrive and grow out of the murkiest of waters), there is not that much iconography centered around the bee in Indian art, however there is a vast amount of poetry.

I have made a number of paintings with the bee and the lotus as active and passive counterpoints to each other - reflecting the raft of Indian poetry which uses and metamorphosises these subjects to symbolise Krishna and his gopis, like this one:

“When the Krishna bee approached the lotus flower of Radharani’s face, He became completely maddened by its fragrance, and buzzing He continually hovered about it”.

I’m fascinated by the idea of harnessing the senses during meditation. In this painting I’m drawing on that idea with the bee and the flower become one as in Bhramari- which is a yogic asana involving the sound of a bee:

“Slowly draw in air and perform Bhramarikumbaka,
Exhale it very slowly and then the sound of the bee will arise.
On hearing the sound of a bee from within, lead the mind there.
Samadhi will occur, together with the bliss arising from the realisation,
“I am that”.
Gheranda Samhita. c.1700

Olivia Fraser, 2021