‘Weeping Durga’, 2015 colour Biro Drawing, Jane Lee McCracken
‘Weeping Durga’ Icon, inspired by Hindu iconography celebrates the beauty and majesty of the Bengal Tiger and represents Durga the Tiger Goddess weeping for her tigers threatened with extinction. It is the companion icon for ‘Blue Tiger’ Tattooed Sculpture (work in progress). ‘Blue Tiger’ sculpture stylised and painted white to reflect ancient art and drawn over in blue Biro, looks towards ‘Weeping Durga’ for hope she will protect him. But Durga now looks for the compassion of humans to save tigers from extinction.
‘Blue Tiger’ Tattooed Sculpture, work in progress
‘Weeping Durga’ encapsulates the vibrant colours of Indian culture and Hinduism. It layers drawn images of Bengal Tigers over a drawing of a traditional Hindu icon painting set around a jewel like representation of Durga, which incorporates layered drawn images of two iconic Bollywood Actors, Rekha and Shabana Azami. As with most of my pieces symbolising threat of extinction to a particular species, there are unfinished areas of the drawing representing ‘disappearance’.
Detail of Bengal Tiger and Durga, colour Biro drawing
The drawing took 3 months to make with around half a square inch completed per day. Only 8 colour Biro pens were used with the colours mixed on top of one another within the drawing to achieve the finished palette.
Detail of Bengal Tiger, colour Biro drawing
‘Weeping Durga’ has been donated to Save Wild Tigers for their upcoming event ‘Be Inspired’ at the Savoy, London 9th October 2015. Splendid tiger inspired artwork courtesy of 18 artists to be auctioned in benefit for Save Wild Tigers is now being previewed on Paddle8 with bidding opening on 22nd September – 8th October.
For further information about Save Wild Tigers Savoy Gala Event on 9th October please contact:
Jane Lee McCracken, Artist 