Mosaic

Mosaic

PARAMAHANSA (outdoors)
Iridescent glass-tile mosaic, 6'x6'
Photographed outdoors, in sunlight, after grouting
Giclée print, 12″ x 16″ @ $150 + $9 s&h = $159
Giclée print, 9″ x 12″ @$80 + $ 8 s&h = $88
Add to shopping cart

PARAMAHANSA (indoor)
Iridescent glass-tile mosaic, 6'x6'
Photographed in studio, artificial light, before grouting
Giclée print, 12″ x 16″ @ $150 + $9 s&h = $159
Giclée print, 9″ x 12″ @$80 + $ 8 s&h = $88
Add to shopping cart

Soma poses with Brother Ishtananda on the day of the unveiling in 2011.

In the oak-studded hills of northern San Diego County the Self-Realization Fellowship maintains a secluded, 100-acre retreat for devotees considering the ascetic life of a monastic. Each morning and evening the men gather silently for their Energization Exercises on the broad, stone deck of the outdoor swimming pool. Facing them across the clear water is an unusual work of art -- "Paramahansa" (Supreme Swan), a six-foot by six-foot mosaic made of tiny, iridescent glass tiles imported from Italy.

Soma Han, usually works in watercolors and had never attempted a mosaic before. But in 2009 she was inspired by Paramahansa Yogananda's "Morning Prayer" to create this swan-lotus design in glass.

"I'd never done a mosaic before," says Soma. "Actually, I'd never seen a mosaic before, but I was inspired and Guruji guided my hands. It's not my work, it's His." It took Soma two years, working on the floor of her studio, to complete the work, and ten men to install it in 2011.

After mounting the glass-tiles onto a double layer of 6'x3' cement board, the completed mosaic was lifted onto its specially built cinder-block wall by ten residents of the ashram.

Weeks later, Soma touches up the installed work of art, replacing tiles which have fallen out during the installation. The grout has not yet been applied.

These giclée prints are printed on Museo Silver Rag 100% cotton, watercolor finish, 300 gsm archival fine art paper, ready for framing. Each print is signed and "chopped" by Soma Han. Proceeds from the sale of these images benefit the Hidden Valley Ashram.