Art installations celebrating Diwali on show

Media Release
27 October 2016

Indra’s Bow, 2016
Tiffany Singh and Jo Blogg
Detail image showing henna and rosemary in glass vessels hanging from the ceiling

Large-scale art installations celebrating Diwali on show at MTG Hawke’s Bay, alongside exhibition of Indian objects and artworks from the collection

Acclaimed contemporary artist Tiffany Singh brings colour, movement, sound and scent to MTG Hawke’s Bay with two new art installations opening to the public on Saturday 29 October.

Outdoor installation The Colours of Light features 700 ribbons in a rainbow of colours, hanging from the pillars of the museum forecourt in celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Handmade bells from the Indian district of Kutch are tied to the ribbons, adding an element of sound as they move in the wind.

The rainbow motif continues in the second installation, Indra’s Bow, which occupies the entire Chambers Gallery within MTG Hawke’s Bay. This collaborative artwork was made by Tiffany Singh and local artist Jo Blogg, who employs similarly meticulous and ritualistic processes in her artworks. The two artists joined forces to transform the gallery space into a powerful sensory art environment.

Indra’s Bow was inspired by the spirituality of Diwali and refers to the rainbow of the god Indra. An immersive artwork, it links Eastern and Western philosophies through a mandala of rice that covers the floor, and a rainbow of hundreds of glass vessels hanging from the ceiling. The vessels are filled with an array of colourful spices, flowers and more, combining fragrance with visual opulence to create an uplifting experience.

In the gallery space adjacent to Indra’s Bow, the exhibition A Glimpse of India features a rich and diverse group of Indian objects and artworks from the Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi collection. This exhibition along with both art installations will be open to the public on Saturday 29 October.

Tiffany Singh will give a floor talk at MTG Hawke’s Bay at 11am on Saturday 29 October. All are welcome to attend. Free with museum entry.

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