Video 1
Nature
To say nature has been an influence for us is an understatement. In some respects every strand of Solas Art is essentially an attempt to reconnect us with nature and tune into her rhythm.
Nature manifests firstly in the materials we have chosen to work with. All of which are naturally occurring, manufactured packed and distributed exclusively by Mother Nature herself.
Each individual piece has been hand picked and chosen because of its nature expressing qualities. Our Portfolio includes:
- Periwinkle shells
- Stones with naturally occurring holes
- Crystals
- Limpets
- Woods
- Sands
- Coral
- Shells
- Pine Cones
These materials hold their own message and have become our teachers. For example periwinkles parading the golden spiral to ‘being and nothingness’ contained within a simple stone with a hole in it, our relationship with these materials is one of friendship. There is a real sense that we belong together and we hold fantastic fondness for each other.
This relationship with these materials is a metaphor for our relationship with the earth in general. Long before any human showed up on earth the landscape displayed its clay for millennia. It's really from this very clay that we emerged. So in a very real sense human beings are the children of the earth. So nature is where we belonged for aeons and in a way somewhere inside us is a longing to feel that level of belonging again.
Nature is itself calling to us, always inviting us to be embraced by her once more. But it is we who have turned from her. Somehow the obsessions and pace of modern living have kept us away from connecting with the mother of all mothers.
Through creating mandalas with these materials it is common to unravel nature’s language evident in the eloquent symbols abundant in her each and every manifestation. Whether it is a voyage into the construction of coral or simply a pigeon stealing the incense stick! time and time again this work awakens us to the call of nature and moves us back into her tender embrace.
The writing and insight of John O’Donohue is amongst the best articulations of the majesty of nature for Solas Art. His writing reads like mystical poetry and he has enlivened nature for us and become one of our greatest influences.
Through the generosity of his family we are honored to provide an excerpt from his book 'Divine Beauty'.
Divine Beauty (Extract) - (click here to read excerpt)
We extend sincere gratitude to The O’Donohue Family for allowing us include his work here and kindly remind readers that all work is copyrighted and remains the property of the author.
About the author
John O'Donohue is an Irish poet and philosopher. He is the author of several works, including a book on the philosophy of Hegel, Person als Vermittlung, two collections of poetry, Echoes of memory and Conamara Blues, and the two international bestsellers Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes. John died prematurely on the 4th Jan 2008, although he has passed on; the gravity of his work enlivens his spirit for us every time we read his wonderful words.
For more information about John O'Donohue visit www.johnodonohue.com
