Art for Land February 2025 – Dual Exhibition
A Journey of Art and Collective Purpose
Exhibition Timings till March 30th:
Mornings: 9 AM – 12:30 PM & Afternoons: 2 PM – 4 PM
Venue: Unity Hall & Hall of Peace, Unity Pavilion, International Zone, Auroville
Art for Land Exhibition – February 2025.pdf
The Unity Pavilion in Auroville lit up with gratitude and inspiration on February 2nd as it hosted the inauguration of the Art for Land February 2025 exhibition. Flowers hold a profound significance in Auroville’s spiritual landscape since The Mother assigned deep symbolic meanings to various blooms. The exhibition honors this important theme with a dual presentation of beautiful, vibrant, and sensitive original artworks.
This event exemplifies the interconnectedness of art, collective efforts and Auroville’s vision of growth. As always, the AFL Exhibitions serve as a showcase for Auroville’s creative dynamism and also as a collective offering for the consolidation of Auroville’s Master Plan land, with proceeds dedicated to the Acres for Auroville land campaign. Artworks can be purchased at the Unity Pavilion, and also viewed online and purchased at https://artforland.in/ Selected prints of archival artworks are also available for purchase at the Unity Pavilion.
A Night of Resonance and Reflection
The inaugural evening commenced with a dedicated chanting session led by Arnab, setting the tone for a spiritually uplifting experience. Jaya welcomed all the guests and participants with her warm greetings and captivated the audience, emphasizing the deeper connection between art, flowers, and the vision of Auroville. Aryadeep of Lands for Auroville Unified (LFAU) and Mandakini of Acres for Auroville (A4A) spoke from the heart about the vital need for Auroville land consolidation, thanking Art For Land for its longtime collaboration with and support for A4A. This was followed by Soham’s masterful Sitar performance – plus Slava on flute and singing bowls and Olga with hand pan drum. Together they wove a magic blend of beauty, harmony, and the spirit of unity, leaving the audience inspired.
A Dual Celebration of Auroville’s Land and Spirit
The exhibition is meticulously curated into two thematic spaces, each offering a distinct yet interconnected perspective on Auroville’s mission with the theme of flowers and their spiritual sense as their center:
1. The “Spirit of Auroville” – Hall of Peace
The ‘Spirit of Auroville’ exhibition showcases artworks from 1971- 1973 by Sri Aurobindo Ashram artists, inspired by flowers chosen by The Mother for Auroville, each symbolizing qualities like Power, Collective Harmony, Aspiration etc. The presentation of the works has been guided by Richard Pearson of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, who has dedicated much of his life to sharing the Mother’s insights on flowers. The exhibition presents 21 paintings of the Hibiscus (Power) and other flowers, and also has a stunning painting of a Hibiscus by our very own Auroville artist, Jyoti Khare (see Jyoti below standing next to her painting). Recent contributions of flower paintings by another AFL contributing artist – Dilip Patel – are featured. With the texts and explanations presented in four languages -English, French, Tamil, Sanskrit -the exhibition reflects Auroville’s multicultural ethos.
2. “Flowers By Hasi” – Unity Hall
“Flowers by Hasi” is a radiant tribute to the late Hasi Grandcolas, a dedicated sadhika and artist. This vibrant collection serves as a heartfelt tribute to her art and the timeless beauty and spiritual significance of flowers. Each painting radiates vitality, vibrancy and harmony and the interconnectedness between the natural world and the human spirit, all the while testifying to the warmth and talent of Hasi.
With our gratitude to Richard Pearson for his inspiration and lifelong work!
The Mission of ‘Art for Land’ at the Unity Pavilion
The lands for Auroville are to be bought and can be bought — the money is needed.
Will you help? …. The Mother, May 1970
Art for Land, based at the Unity Pavilion, is a collaborative action to raise funds for the purchase of the still-missing lands needed to consolidate Auroville’s Master Plan area, and is now in its 9th year.
We sincerely thank all of the artists – from Auroville, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Pondicherry and Delhi), India, Europe, Canada & the USA – for their solidarity and generosity in donating their artworks to support AFL. To date, approximately 160 acres of previously missing Master Plan land have joined Auroville, thanks to this combined action of AFL with the Acres for Auroville land campaign.
The Art for Land February 2025 exhibition remains open until March 30th, 2025, to be followed by new exhibitions each quarter. Join us in honoring this sacred confluence of art, spirit, and purpose. Every artwork purchased transforms creativity and beauty into a meaningful contribution for the land!
