Sculpture: Shiva Natraja (bronze)
I went to the Dallas Museum of Art for my Museum Project. The sculpture of Shiva Natraja was quite interesting and unique. And so I decided to analyze the elements and design of this antique piece of art, that also very closely represents the Hindu culture and heritage.
Shiva Nataraja was first represented in a beautiful series of South Indian bronzes dating from the tenth amd twelfth centuries A.D. Shiva, represented in this bronze statue, is one of the three major Hindu deities. This high relief statue represents apocalypse and creation as he dances away the illusionary world of worldly pleasures transforming it into power and enlightenment. The bronze structural form came into existence in Chola dynasty and then continued to be reproduced in metal, stone, and other substances. The sculpture was made by molding bronze.
Shiva Nataraja sculpture is made with precise understanding of Indian mythology.After closely analyzing the Shiva Nataraja structure a lot of hidden symbolism can be revealed from the choice of each gesture and form used to build the structure. The gestures of the dance represent Shiva’s five activities, creation (symbolized by the drum), protection (by the “fear not” hand gesture), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).
In this bronze structure, Nataraja dances with his right foot supported by a crouching figure and his left foot elegantly raised. In India, dance has been one of the most basic and relevant forms of expression since ancient times. Here, Shiva dances within a circle of flames, representing cosmic order and radiance of his dance. The drum in his right hand ticks our time into existence, and flame in his left hand ends our existence. Shiva’s raised foot symbolizes salvation. His right foot stamps on the prone figure of ignorance. He wears two earrings, one a man’s and the other a woman’s, signifying the duality of our nature. A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm, and the moon and a skull are on his crest. He dances within an arc of flames This dance is called the Dance of Bliss, anandatandava.
Different elements and principles of designs are implied to create this piece of art. The significance of Natraja is said to be that Shiva is shown as the source of all movement within the cosmos, represented by the repeated arch of flames. In this three-dimensional sculpture, motion is implied. Shiva is shown in the dance of destruction and recreation of the universe. The movement is reinforced by his untamed hair flying everywhere. Use of curvy lines to make his dance posture, and repeated arms depicts motion as well. The sculpture is made of bronze. The texture of hand and feet are lifelike to the degree where it’s soft like skin. Mass in this sculpture is in open form, which is supported by the unkempt hair, four arms stretched in different directions, and gesture of his feet.
Repetition and rhythm is created with his hair streaming out on either side of his face. Two of his hands are joined together on one side; however this is balanced by the demon under his foot. Furthermore, his raised foot is also balanced by the resolution of weight, stress, and tension of his posture. The repeated fiery ring surrounding Shiva emphasizes the representation of the universe with all its illusion, suffering, and pain. The outer edge is fire, and the inner edge the oceans. Nataraja dances above the body of the demon, Apasmara, who represents the ignorance of teaching. Dwarfing the demon subordinates its existence and emphasizes Shiva’s supreme power. In the sculpture Shiva’s limbs, hair, and flames fan outward from his torso like spokes in a wheel, with the center at his navel. With the use of various stated elements and principles of design Shiva’s perpetual motion and the sense of unearthly power is fully expressed in this sculpture of Shiva Natraja.
By:
I went to the Dallas Museum of Art for my Museum Project. The sculpture of Shiva Natraja was quite interesting and unique. And so I decided to analyze the elements and design of this antique piece of art, that also very closely represents the Hindu culture and heritage.
Shiva Nataraja was first represented in a beautiful series of South Indian bronzes dating from the tenth amd twelfth centuries A.D. Shiva, represented in this bronze statue, is one of the three major Hindu deities. This high relief statue represents apocalypse and creation as he dances away the illusionary world of worldly pleasures transforming it into power and enlightenment. The bronze structural form came into existence in Chola dynasty and then continued to be reproduced in metal, stone, and other substances. The sculpture was made by molding bronze.
Shiva Nataraja sculpture is made with precise understanding of Indian mythology.After closely analyzing the Shiva Nataraja structure a lot of hidden symbolism can be revealed from the choice of each gesture and form used to build the structure. The gestures of the dance represent Shiva’s five activities, creation (symbolized by the drum), protection (by the “fear not” hand gesture), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).
In this bronze structure, Nataraja dances with his right foot supported by a crouching figure and his left foot elegantly raised. In India, dance has been one of the most basic and relevant forms of expression since ancient times. Here, Shiva dances within a circle of flames, representing cosmic order and radiance of his dance. The drum in his right hand ticks our time into existence, and flame in his left hand ends our existence. Shiva’s raised foot symbolizes salvation. His right foot stamps on the prone figure of ignorance. He wears two earrings, one a man’s and the other a woman’s, signifying the duality of our nature. A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm, and the moon and a skull are on his crest. He dances within an arc of flames This dance is called the Dance of Bliss, anandatandava.
Different elements and principles of designs are implied to create this piece of art. The significance of Natraja is said to be that Shiva is shown as the source of all movement within the cosmos, represented by the repeated arch of flames. In this three-dimensional sculpture, motion is implied. Shiva is shown in the dance of destruction and recreation of the universe. The movement is reinforced by his untamed hair flying everywhere. Use of curvy lines to make his dance posture, and repeated arms depicts motion as well. The sculpture is made of bronze. The texture of hand and feet are lifelike to the degree where it’s soft like skin. Mass in this sculpture is in open form, which is supported by the unkempt hair, four arms stretched in different directions, and gesture of his feet.
Repetition and rhythm is created with his hair streaming out on either side of his face. Two of his hands are joined together on one side; however this is balanced by the demon under his foot. Furthermore, his raised foot is also balanced by the resolution of weight, stress, and tension of his posture. The repeated fiery ring surrounding Shiva emphasizes the representation of the universe with all its illusion, suffering, and pain. The outer edge is fire, and the inner edge the oceans. Nataraja dances above the body of the demon, Apasmara, who represents the ignorance of teaching. Dwarfing the demon subordinates its existence and emphasizes Shiva’s supreme power. In the sculpture Shiva’s limbs, hair, and flames fan outward from his torso like spokes in a wheel, with the center at his navel. With the use of various stated elements and principles of design Shiva’s perpetual motion and the sense of unearthly power is fully expressed in this sculpture of Shiva Natraja.
By:
Natasha KC
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