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Process of Karma
Much of my community based work has focused on ritual as part of the female tradition in India. Rural Indian women have been making "installation art" for most of their lives, on thresholds, in rooms, on walls, of their homes. Most of these works are transient, lasting in some cases for just a couple of hours. Process of Karma follows in this ritualistic tradition. The initial piece of the installation was first exhibited in Minneapolis. In 1997 a portion of it was shown at the MCA in their Chicago 1945-1995 show. Since then, it has grown, with some pieces still evolving.
According to Indian philosophy, action determines one's Karma and the process is what brings sadhana or grace. Most of the works in the Process of Karma installation are labor intensive, recalling parallel rituals performed the world over; daily chores involved with gathering, preparing, nurturing. Ordinary objects found in most neighborhoods in the normal cycle of life and re-birth are, combined with those discarded by our throwaway attitudes. Re-introduced into society, and presented in this ritualistic format, their energy is recycled and the idea of the sacredness of everyday life is confirmed.
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