Art Chamber, Galeria de Belas Artes
Invites you to the opening of the photographic exhibition
The Mystical Dragon
By Nolan Mascarenhas
On Friday, 12th Match, 2010 @ 7.30 pm
RSVP 9823217435
Castelo Vermelho 115/a
Gauravaddo, Calangute
Goa - India
www.artchambergoa.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_0GszX5ZpgS2A7K9pViWVw?feat=directlink
The Mystical Dragon
Based on his holiday, to China with parents Odette and Joe Mascarenhas
and his beloved camera, Nolan in his first exhibition brings to you the
"The Mystical Dragon". In his very own words he remarks 'China is the
land of time where civilization began. India and China share a
commonality ranging from Religion to Culture.' He began to capture it
frame by frame.
Egged on by the stories of the dragon and the phoenix creatures of myths
and legends, a symbol of good fortune and a sign of intense power, he
was determined to name this series...'The Mystical Dragon.'
A visit to the Shaolin Monastery built on the north side of Shaoshi, one
of the four Sacred Mountains of China brought out four classic frames of
the monks synonymous for what are considered the external Chinese
martial arts....his label 'poetry in motion' as he watched them execute
their unparalleled moves.
And then a trip to Xian, Shaanxi province, near the Mausouleum of the
First Qin Emperor (Qin Shi Huang) he faced the Terracotta Army armed
with his camera to showcase the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses.
Watching the Hutongs being razed down to make way for the Beijing
Olympics he captured the 'frozen' pain on the faces of the occupants as
they stared into the 'unknown' future vacantly.
Later lying flat on his back to the amusement of locals and tourists
alike he captured the colorful dome of the Temple of Heaven built during
the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. It is now
inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Was Buddhism only practised in India he wondered as he stood at The
Longmen Grottoes which overwhelmingly depict Buddhist subjects. This
construction of which began in CE 493 had most of the statues' heads
destroyed during the Cultural revolution. His picture has the giant
buddha's head is in shadow and as described by the photographer perhaps
mourning the 'fanatical destruction' of what is good and holy.
And then in awe as he saw the Great Wall of China a series of stone and
earthen fortifications in northern China, built, rebuilt 'and maintained
between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern
borders of the Chinese Empire during various successive dynasties. It
was not easy to get its long undulating length from any specific angle.
He spent hours walking on its ramparts trying to find the right spot,
hoping to capture some part of it in totality. ..and he did.
This exhibition of 20 photographs is his simple tribute to the history
of one of our largest neighbors and its magical background...depicting
the legend of the Dragon.
Goanet A-C-E!
Arts ~ Culture ~ Entertainment
