(With the permission of my participant, here is a showcase of his transformation of his process from movement to art. This piece was created after his last session in an individual session after a series of workshops he has attended. Below is his reflection on the masterpiece.)
The Dancing Bodhisattva ~ 飛天観自在
A Drawing, done in colours pencils, that resulted from one of my Dance Movement Therapy sessions with my god-sis, Elizabeth.
For this, I must give credit to the magnificent masterpieces produced from Master Zeng Hao's Dun Huang Art Studio, and also to the moving sensational musical experience of the genius Japanese New Age instrumental group, S.E.N.S. Without them, I can neither have the Inspiration nor the Aspiration to conceptualise, produce and complete this Drawing!
This truly reflects my personal spiritual heritage, influences, and aspirations. I feel so deeply connected and moved in the Flow of the Spirit, and in turn, feel very much liberated and enlightened during the process of producing this reflective piece. And this is especially so since the Drawing is done and completed over the Vesak Day holiday! {chuckles!}
Notice the number of inter-cultural and inter-religious influences and inspirations this picture contains.
The most obvious ones would be the heavy Hindu-Buddhist influences reflected here - like the seemingly Shiva Nataraja pose, the White Complexion, the Blue Neck and Highlights of the Nīlakaṇṭha Lokeśvara (paying homage to the Bodhisattva of Universal Compassion, Avalokiteśvara, 觀世音菩薩 ~ hence, the Title of the Drawing!)
Others include the genderless aspect of the Bodhisattva, true to the Nature of an Enlightened Being, who can be 'All Things to All People' (in reference to St Paul's 1st Letter to the Corinthians, 9:19-23), the Insignia of the Cross in the form of a Star on the forehead, the Sacred and Enlightening Fire of the Holy Spirit (in a rather Siamese style!) for the nimbus; even the curls of the hair is inspired by St Andrey Rublev's Icon of the Holy Trinity!
See if you can identify them all, and other subtle ones too!"
