#ella brewer

[tiffanysinghcurrent]

These images are the works in progress from the Shadows Of The Awakened series. This collaboration between myself & Ella Brewer is a translation of Buddhist images from the Indo-Tibetan tradition to a contemporary space. Questions we asked of the project; how to keep the authenticity & blessing from this living yet ancient tradition alive, as well as allow the work to speak to those of us, who religious or not, thrive on beauty symbol & ritual. We believe mindful collaboration feels like the way forward to a richer art making practice and also a better world for everyone.

[tiffanysinghcurrent]

Captured at the wellbeing weekend at Te Papa. The Focus of this weekend was to draw alliances and connections between the health, education and art sectors. Through the use of different mediums and creative expressions.  Lead by leaders in their fields. Mindfulness with Ella Brewer, Scent workshop with Yvette Sitten and a panel discussion that spoke to how the arts-health relationship can offer diverse and dynamic settings for expressive, restorative, educational and therapeutic purposes. 

 Images by Kate Whitley, Te Papa © 2018

[shadowsoftheawakened]

The Shadows of The Awakened refers to the immense potential of each person. As a shadow resembles its owner, so do we resemble our highest potential. Each deity present, shows an aspect of this potential. Green Tara embodies swift enlightened action driven by wisdom and compassion. Vajravarahi cuts away delusional states of mind. The use of precious metals have been used to honour the divine in many religious traditions, whist the use of New Zealand earth connects the artwork to the terra energies of Aotearoa.

[shadowsoftheawakened]

There are tools used in Ella’s studio brought in 1997 in Menorca as a part of the equipment required by Ella’s teacher Andy Weber during her study of Tibetan drawing. Ella’s belief is, that in blessing the art equipment one uses and keeping the study clean and organised, these simple acts of daily ritual become an important part of the meditation and painting practice. 

[shadowsoftheawakened]

To eliminate ignorance and cut the root of samsara we need to realize the right view. Even actions such as having a party, if they are done with the realization of emptiness or with the understanding that they are merely labeled by the mind or a hallucination, like a dream or like an illusion, become an antidote to samsara and a cause to achieve liberation, the ultimate happiness. – Lama Zopa Rinpoche 

[shadowsoftheawakened]

Minding the gap between where we are and where we know we can go describes the space this work inhabits. These deities inhabit our homes with us guiding the construction of the works. The window map is changed depending on who we are honouring in the moment of production. Letting these images serve as a guide to your highest potential. That of a Buddha. 

[shadowsoftheawakened]

The dye preparation. Using natural dyes to tint the ground is the first or second step after placing the deity on the paper. This is according to Max Gimblett’s advice - The preparation of the ground supports the creation of the image. These two dyes form the ground of Vajravarahi, diamond sow. She will be placed upon a blessed ground of Tanekaha which was used medicinally as an astringent and antimicrobial agent by Maori people and early European settlers, combined with turkish Indigo. To create the earth and the sky for her enlightened environment. 

[shadowsoftheawakened]

This suite of artworks is an abbreviation and elaboration on sacred Tibetan images.

Made by artists of English, Maori, Pacific and Indian heritage.  The work is a synthesis of the Buddhist lineage, gifted to Ella Brewer by her teacher Andy Weber and Japanese flower pressing, a technique gifted to Tiffany by dye senzai Deb Donnelly who makes art textiles that breathe contemporary life into traditional materials and techniques. Asia Pasifika design has always been an integral part of her life and practice blending her Kiwi, Japanese and Australian heritage roots.

The magical combination of these two lineages, one precise; full of detailed symbolism, the other organic and free flowing, is a translation of Buddhist Art from the Tibetan tradition for a contemporary Western audience.