Today's Holy-day Art Preview: Nirvana Day is Feb. 15

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Vernedia Britton

"Paranivan" (1999) by Lewis deSoto
Mixed media with nylon, painted cloth, 71 x 285 x 101 in.

While the Buddha sought a world of "good thoughts" as noted by Kai Daniels yesterday, over the following centuries there emerged a new form of Buddhism, including fierce deities who were introduced as protectors of Buddhism and its believers. These dieties do not reflect the concept of Nirvana: release from earthly existence. When he died, he did not return, and that is why he is remembered on "Nirvana Day." I selected the artwork "Paranivan" (See video) by Lewis deSoto for this post because when I first saw it (in reverse: deflation) at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art in St. Louis, I felt at peace.