Art
In Sikhi There’s No Distinction Between What Is Or Isn’t Spiritual:
The Art Of Baljinder Kaur
ANTONIA BLUMBERG
Sikh-Briton artist Baljinder Kaur’s Instagram account exudes both sweetness and profundity. Through her art, the 25-year-old UK native explores themes of faith and identity as expressed through daily life.
“I don’t intentionally convey particular messages. Rather, they’re outcomes of conversations with myself, through and with the life around me,” Baljinder explains. “They help me connect and make sense of things.”
Her faith comes through in images of the Sikh Gurus as well as a variety of Sikh characters, and also in more subtle explorations of nature, love and the wider universe.
Since the beginning of this year, Baljinder has been exploring the theme of gratitude through her art.
Her “Thank You” project is a series of what will eventually be 100 drawings and paintings - or “expressions,” as she calls them - on the seemingly quotidian objects, people and experiences for which she’s grateful.
“Ideally, as a Sikh there is no distinction between what is or isn’t spiritual,” Baljinder says. “This entire expanse is innately divine and can be used as a tool to experience, remember and ingrain that ultimate truth.”
She released her latest “Thank You” on Instagram for Earth Day, marking 96 out of 100 expressions.
“My husband once said to me that ‘God is in the details. The beauty in our existence is there to remind us of the beauty of our existence.’
“That phrase has stuck since,” Baljinder adds.
“So in attempting to practice consciousness and gratitude, I try to recognize that beauty in our everyday lives,” she added. “It is that same experience which connects us to the infinite.”
[Courtesy: The Huffington Post. Edited for sikhchic.com]
April 28, 2016
Conversation about this article
1: Ajit Singh Batra (Pennsville, New Jersey, USA), May 01, 2016, 9:15 PM.
Guru Nanak Sahib set out to travel all over of world to spread the message of love and truth. He composed the Mool Mantar and other gurbani during the course of his travels. He advised Sikhs to recite the Mool Mantar and live by it at all times, even while engrossed in their daily, worldly preoccupations. The spiritual and temporal activities in life are combined in Sikhism to denote a unique way of life. I concur with artist Baljinder ji in that there is nothing in Sikhi which is not spiritual. Art too reflects the highest spiritual ideals.