Once upon a time, there was a sage who was bathing in a river. When he stepped on the river bank, he found a scorpion trapped between two rocks, desperately struggling to escape. The sage freed the scorpion by moving the rocks. As soon as it was free, the scorpion stung the sage with its poisonous tail before scampering away. An onlooker laughed and told the sage that it served him tight to save a scorpion. To which the sage replied, “I behave as per my nature and it behaved as per its own.”
Vrischikasana is a wall-mounted relief inspired by the advanced yoga pose known as the “Scorpion.” Constructed from layered textiles and painted surfaces, the piece evokes the human form in a moment of deep physical engagement – a backbend so intense it mirrors the coiled readiness of a scorpion. The subtle interplay of materials invites the viewer to trace the contours of the figure, almost sensing the breath held within the pose.
Rooted in the symbolic nature of its name, Vrischikasana also echoes the ancient parable of the sage and the scorpion: even when harmed, the sage continues to act from his true nature – peaceful and kind. Likewise, this artwork suggests that we, too, can meet life’s challenges with balance, inner strength, and grace.
It is both a visual meditation and a physical reminder: growth happens when we return to the body, embrace discomfort, and lean into our own resilience.
Namaste!
100x125x2,5 cm
acrylic, various textile on plastic panels