The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of one;
I cure the ailment of the other.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival;
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life, which begins at
The feet of the mad elements and ends
Under the upraised wings of death.

I emerge from the heart of the sea
Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in
Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and
The trees in a million little ways.

–Khalil Gibran, from the Song of the Rain (1883-1931)

The first rains of the Indian monsoon are magnificent, even operatic events. As clouds begin to gather, people’s spirits also soar in anticipation; of welcome relief from the heat and dry season. Then the rain bursts. Skies light up as the clouds shed their burden. The sun-baked earth celebrates meeting the first monsoon drops by emitting a heady aroma. Smiles light up the faces of farmers who awaited rain, ready to begin the new growing season. As the rain embraces the earth, a new season of hope and renewal begins. The desert comes alive with the first monsoon in the season. With the showers, shoots will burst forth in the desert and soon flowers will bloom.

Om draws upon his emotions and imagination to record this heady celebration in a vivid and wonderful oil pastel creation. It is not merely the rain and its immediate impact that we can observe in this painting. The artist compels us to see the earth coming alive with the first monsoon. In this sense, the painting brings to life the glorious experience of the first monsoon and the new growing season in one frame – as if he has superimposed a series of time lapse photos to provide a vivid and exuberant picture of what happens to the desert once the first monsoons arrive.

To provide a scale to nature’s drama, and to add a human touch to this celebration of nature, a woman stands to a side, covering her head with a veil to shelter from the rain and the wind. Om compares the first rains of the season to the veil of a new bride – full of expectation, a gateway to realizing dreams and releasing new energy. They both make way to renewal and rejuvenation of life and its limitless possibilities.
This vibrant Giclee print (24″ X 30″) of an oil pastel creation is sure to add positive energy and light to any room it will adorn.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Art from the Vault. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.