The entrance to the yogic art exhibit at the Freer
The yogic art is in terrific shape. The sculptures are missing very few of their parts and pieces (noses are mostly gone, an arm or two might be missing – but they often are depicted with four or six arms). Even so, they convey power, serenity, and beauty.
One of the surprising things to me was the vibrancy of the colors in the printed pieces. It’s hard to believe these drawings and paintings are more than 100 years old. The reds and blues are so rich.
The exhibit ends with a large screen with videos playing. The screen is divided into six parts and it shows film from 1938 of BKS Iyengar and his teacher, Kristamacharya, doing yoga. It’s great to watch them, seemingly effortlessly go from one excruciatingly difficult pose (or in my case, currently impossible) to another. And at one point, at the completion of a pose, Iyengar turns turns to the camera and flashes a little smile. It’s a great moment.
Well worth the trip, the exhibit is only in DC until the end of the month. It will travel to Cleveland and San Francisco later this year.