SANJEEVANI, From Here to There
Terzo Piano Gallery, Washington DC | November 12th, 2021 - January 23rd, 2022
This exhibition Sanjeevani reveals my long standing engagement with ideas of suspended time, the ecological, the existential, and the construction and destruction of places, images, and words.
In Hinduism, Sanjeevani (translates as “one that infuses life”), is a magical herb which has the power to cure serious nervous system disorders. It is believed that medicines prepared from this herb could revive the patient in any situations where death is almost certain. The herb is mentioned in the Ramayana when Lakshmana fell unconscious, near death, and Hanuman approached the Royal Physician of Lanka, Sushena for advice. Sushena asked Hanuman to rush to the Dronagiri Hills, on the slopes of the Himalayas. and fetch four plants: Sanjeevani is the most important since it is believed to bring one from near death back to life. The mountain of herbs is identified as the Valley of Flowers. Hanuman could not identify the herb thus lifted the whole mountain and brought it to the battlefield in Lanka. After healing Lakshmana, the men went back to war. This parable relates to our vaccination for COVID where in our highly developed technological times we have found a preventative for the viral infection and death. And yet, we keep going on with dangerous behaviors, violent acts, and perpetuating damage to our environment.
See detailed information for the exhibited works on the Terzo Piano website; terzopianodc.com