Green Acres

We are very pleased to start our Art for Land series of articles ‘Conversation with an Artist’ with this sharing by Auroville artist Pierre Legrand. In it, Pierre presents his unique path of creation, intersecting art with the spiritual. Starting with his creative tinkerings as a child, through his studies in Paris, his exhibitions in Europe and India, Pierre provides insights into his artistic research including the invention of his ‘alphabet’ and his discovery of ‘the little things’. The past year has been one of an unexpected harvest in his evolving creative sea. Speaking about his voyage – he says: ‘The first image which comes to my mind is that of Colombus in the middle of the Atlantic being asked about his journey. What could he say ?…’

Over the past eleven years, Art For Land has become a respected showcase for the works of Auroville artists and friends of Auroville. Our new AFL exhibition ‘The Golden Light’ brings together creative works from ten Auuroville and Ashram artists in diverse media in which the golden light shines through and inspires, including profound artistic interpretations of Savitri. All sales go to the Acres for Auroville campaign for acquiring Auroville’s missing Master Plan land. Viewing and purchase of many of the works by the featured artists and by the other AFL artists presented on our site is possible at Auroville’s Unity Pavilion and also online at artforland.in https://land.auroville.org/art-for-land-exhibition-the-golden-light/

The Mother’s New Year messages provide a sense of what is at stake with each new annual cycle. Here is a compilation of all of The Mother’s messages that she gave over the 40 years from 1933 till 1973. They are messages of guidance and direction in general, but they are also revealing in the context of the historical happenings at every new date. In 1933, the beginnings of the upcoming new World War were taking shape. Her messages in the 1940’s, ‘50s and ’60’s are in the context of the deep changes in world power relations and the menace of new wars. Her words remind us of the rôle that we humans hold and the need for our consecration and sincerity.

Every year, we derive much joy in creating a meaningful New Year’s greeting card with striking photos and quotes. This year’s beautiful card is available free of charge in Auroville’s Town Hall lobby and at the Visitors Centre Information Service. If you would like to receive the printed version of this card by post, please write to us at  lfau@auroville.org.in  We would be happy if you could share it widely with friends and supporters. We thank all the photographers – present and past – whose images adorn our card. May 2026 prove to be a year of further progress on the sunlit path, for us all, for Auroville and for its completed and unified material land base!

Anandi Zhang was born in China. A traveler at heart, she first discovered Auroville in 2014 and chose to belong to it even before setting foot here. Her love of Nature, encounters with human nature, and her aspiration to align with the Divine find expression through her poetry, stories, design, healing work, education, theatre, and more. Reconciling the dichotomies that shape human life, her process of integral growth is moulding an inner home within her. Auroville, she feels, is a home for wandering souls. This article shares the depth and creative expressions of Anandi’s path.

In Lalit’s over 25 years in Auroville, the township became both his teacher and mirror – a lifelong living curriculum through experience, churning, silence, service, and collective aspiration. Through his work in planning, youth engagement, bioregional collaboration, and institutional evolution, he now sees work as yoga, planning as consciousness, and community life as ongoing inner education. In this second and concluding article, Lalit shares his vision for personal and collective growth, and inner and outer sustainability for the next phase of Auroville’s manifestation,

The photo of John on the in-construction Matrimandir, ‘captures’ part of John’s life – using a word he privileged, for he viewed photography as ‘capturing life’. Recently, a part of his immense work was honored at the exhibition ‘Capturing Life’ organised by Auroville’s Prisma Unit and held at Citadines’s Centre d’Art this past August. We are happy to share some glimpses of this photo commemoration for those who could not attend, along with the videos made of his work by Arnab Chowdhury of ‘Know Your Rhythm’. John Mandeen left for his onward journey on 7th July 2024.

The Mother stated that Unity is a fact of the new consciousness and it is there whether we feel it or not. So how do we build, manifest and live this underlying unity? To help us, Auroville has a unique tool – the energy of the Matrimandir, and its symbols. The Twelve Meditation Petals are based on the Twelve Powers of The Mother as incarnated in The Mother’s Symbol. In 1927, Sri Aurobindo assigned colors with their corresponding energies to each quality in her symbol – qualities which should be understood as powers, which can help us in this vital inner and outer work.

The Mother made the connection between the inner flame, love, unity, and our purpose in the world. Here is a selection from the inspiring quotes which she communicated in messages to disciples and seekers, starting in 1912 with “The Supreme Discovery”, written in her own personal writings in “Prayers & Meditations” and recorded in “Words of The Mother” and in the Agenda. They are followed by the profoundly moving section on unity, deep inner identification and universal oneness from Sri Aurobindo’s “Savitri” Book XI: ‘Built is the golden tower, the Flame-Child born.’

In this newsletter, we are happy to present details of the Master Plan land added to Auroville since the start of A4A – all thanks to your donations! In addition, we share articles that attest to the ongoing creativity and commitment of Aurovilians and friends: our A4A flier and LFAU letter share the vision that motivates our work; two articles featuring the contributions and life paths of longtime Aurovilians Uma Prajapati and Lalit Kishor Bhati; and the announcement of the new Art For Land exhibition at the Unity Pavilion – creativity in several media on a theme based on Sri Aurobindo’s works: ‘The Inner Awakening & The Outer Expression’. We finish with a text from Sri Aurobindo on the need for and difficulties of personal and collective transformation. Despite the many challenges of our times, A4A continues its commitment to consolidating and protecting Auroville’s land to ensure its viable future and provide the space for the manifestation of the City of Dawn!