vaga #1/30 obsession 4
PART XXX
"the umbrellas"
This obsession is new and was born in Southeast Asia, "the umbrellas". It is because of the abundance, repetition, visual insistence, variations of the same theme, of unknown symbols and to all this is added its always beautiful visual images. The "umbrella", (paragua) as its word says "-para-el-agua-". For me, it was a worthless object, an item that I used to use during a few rainy days in winter, without ever drawing attention to my eyes. In my wandering around here and seeing them again, and again it is impossible to ignore them, to find them in places, and situations never imagined. The variety of shapes, designs, fabrics, sizes, and all beautiful. The previous obsessions already shared were always "vaga #1 obsession 1, the fabrics stretched out, in "vaga #1 obsession 3, the turquoise colour and lately only in this area of the world "the brooms" in "vague # 1 obsession 2" and now "the umbrellas" that"ARE NOT FOR THE WATER"
From what I have been learning from observation are the sacred as the most relevant. These are the yellows, they are associated with Buddhism as well as Hinduism, but in certain areas, it is not a general rule, only adapted to places where it is related to their geography and local culture, for example no "umbrellas" are seen in temples in Nepal, cold climate. I strongly highlight Bali, Indonesia, and its "umbrellas", which are the most abundant, you do not walk more than 5 metres without running into one, in the altars at the entrances of all the houses, in the streets and there are always altars with "umbrellas" and not one, but several at a time, they are not called "umbrella" they have another religious name that differentiates it from the utilitarian umbrella. Bali, with an expression of Hinduism very particular to its island are the white and black chequered "umbrellas" that symbolise the struggle of good and against evil.
There are other yellow "umbrellas" that are from royalty, they were originally woven with gold and/or silk threads. In real performances they carry up to seven umbrellas demonstrating superiority and the number of these mark hierarchies. Reds and whites are less frequent and are seen in processions, parades and in certain parts of Bali.
The "umbrella" is present in architecture, in pagodas, temples, in sculptures and in artistic works based on the "umbrella", confirming the relevance of its symbol. Surely the symbol of the "umbrella" among other things is associated to protect from the sun, feel a relief and comfort, not so for the rain, the rain is tropical and only has a short season, while the "sun" is the one that is imposed and suffered and that is where the relief of the shadow is sought. Blessed shadow is welcome for both gods, kings, and mere humans.
There are many photos because there are many and many "umbrellas" that I have seen and in different contexts from the sacred, those of processions, parades, mundane, curious, the broken ones, and it is a party of its many shapes, sizes and colours. I will not put where each photo is from as they will interrupt the images of an obsession. A technical point, paper umbrellas, are the "parasols", for shade, but they are not considered sacred, only utilitarian and decorative.
the sacred...
from yellows to reds...
from white to blacks...
in architecture...
a comment impossible to ignore, in northern Thailand, in a major Buddhist temple there was an iconography of an "obese" woman, surrounded by sugary drinks as the only offering and her sacred umbrella. Curious and unique.
in transport...
variations on the same theme ….
on the beaches....
the beach umbrella, the first umbrella I see made of "crochet", of dubious utility in the rain and the COVID umbrella of my island that has not been able to open for almost a year
in the streets...
... end of umbrellas...
umbrella street repairer and when he no longer has a solution they go to the cemetery .....
FESTIVAL OF COLOURS AND SHAPES
tribute to MARY POPPINS
"MONET", in my mind...
I came across this near Chiang Mai, Thailand, with a field of diffuse and vast flowers, there were some girls far away playing with an umbrella, it came to me from some images of the paintings of "Monet" instantly. Sorry, to the readers and especially to "Monet" for the bad reproductions, copied and pasted from Google, but my impression of the moment was of such intensity that I have no choice but to share those emotions.
I end with a photo that curiosity kills me....... this umbrella is in a river, I saw it from the window of my house in Sri Lanka, for days (a photo that I missed was that of the general context, because it is in the middle of the river). I wonder why an umbrella is in the middle of the river?
......to .give shade to the fish or protect them from the rain... ????