‘Art is a Feeling’
Project Manager, Puja Srivastava tells us how an artwork reminds her about her own life as a mother.
The name of this artwork is ‘Cradle’.
It was made in 2012 by the artist Manori Jayasinghe (b. 1972).
This work is made with safety pins. See the full caption
(1) “As a mother, looking after my children and keeping them safe are very important to me.”
(2) “Being a mother is amazing, but it’s also very difficult. We need to find a way to make their life as safe and comfortable as possible.”
(3) “This work makes me think of how challenging it is to be a parent. The cradle is a space where a baby is meant to rest, where they can sleep peacefully and safely. The safety pins bring us back to the harsh reality of the world.”
(4) “What does this make you feel?”
From this worksheet I will find out:
–I can identify emotions in relation to a place, or even an artwork
–I can make something creative thinking about how I feel
Step 1
Think of something that’s very important to you. This can be something you own, a feature about you that you’re proud of or something that makes you special.
Step 2
How do these things make you feel? Do they make you feel happy? Do you get excited each time you think about it? Sometimes you might not have words to describe it, and that’s okay.
Step 3
How can you show this without words? Look at Manori Jayasinghe’s ‘Cradle’. She tries to show us what she is feeling without using any words. Can you believe that this artwork is made of lots and lots of safety pins? What do you think she is trying to say with the safety pins? You can do this too. You can draw a picture of your favourite place at home, even a song that you love. Just remember: no words.
Step 4
Show it to others! Show what you have created to your friends and family. Ask them what they feel when looking at the artwork. Is it the same feeling you had?
