Trace with Akira

by Aashumi Shah July 13, 2017 0 Comments

Trace with Akira

I've been a museum goer ever since I got off the plane in 2002 to study design in the Big Apple. Our field trips from art school in Mumbai extended to two museums The Prince of Wales and The NGMA (National Gallery of Modern Art). Oh yes, and you would certainly find me on winding lines for Free Friday Nights at the MOMA. Student life was all about saving for gauche and fabriano paper!

So, it was only natural for my son, Akira to follow step. The visits were scheduled strategically at nap time in the early days to tactile exhibits in his hyper mobile phase. The National Gallery Sculpture Garden with it's grandly centered water fountain was one of our favorites. The sculptures are beyond life size and if you've got a kid who loves Eric Carle, Spider by Louise Bourgeois can be an exciting discovery at age two. 

Most of us agree that Art is a visual language. Ai Weiwei's Trace at the Hirshhorn is conceptually and artistically mind blowing. A carpet of LEGO portraits of political dissidents that speaks not just to adults but kids too. Now a preschooler, Akira has sketched versions of a self portrait, sometimes missing an eye or an ear of course. As we entered the exhibit he immediately gravitated to the floor wanting to get a closer look. What is it made of? Can I touch it? Will it beep if I touch? So many faces! Look at all these colors! 

I couldn't linger over each portrait (but glad I'd read about the exhibit earlier) because patience is limited at the age of three and a half. But we're ready for some self portrait building with LEGOS and blocks this weekend. Going to the museum and bringing that experience home is part of the art appreciation process. Here is a great piece by EdSource describing how art appreciation helps young minds to think and express their ideas starting as young as preschool. 

We sat on a bench for a little chat after walking through all the exhibits and shopping at the Gift Shop, with his pretend wallet and my real money.
Me: Akira what was your favorite thing at the Hirshhorn today?
Akira: The LEGO pieces that they made of lots of people.

I'm often asked if Akira inspires my design process. I seem to always pause in response. Akira inspires my curiosity and together we continue to grow. He is My Light. This is mirasa.

National Gallery sculpture garden with Akira

But before I sign off, here's what inspired Ai Weiwei to use LEGO as a medium. 

Why Lego?
"Inspired by his five-year-old son, Ai chose LEGOs as a disarmingly playful and ubiquitous material that can easily be constructed, or deconstructed, on a massive scale—in some ways acting as a metaphor for freedom. Ai is known for appropriating materials in his works such as pearls, porcelain, and salvaged wood, and the artist has a tendency to use mass quantities of objects–and large numbers of volunteers—to help create his work, playing with the dichotomies of individual and collective effort, unity and fragmentation."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Aashumi Shah
Aashumi Shah

Author

I'm a textile designer and the founder of mirasa design. I love day dreaming, standing on my head, reading and of course my glass of Malbec. Married to a public defender and mom to a terrific kiddo. We are the Ecua-Indians of Washington D.C.



Also in This is mirasa.

Family Favorites
Family Favorites

by Aashumi Shah January 31, 2018 0 Comments

I think we started reading to our son from the first day of his life. Of course we were following Baby Center's advise on early reading and diligently incorporating a book into his  bedtime routine with hope of a good night's rest. But it was also one of our favorite things to do with our baby. 

View full article →

Being thankful and living in the moment
Being thankful and living in the moment

by Suhaifa Naidoo November 22, 2017 0 Comments

The other day, as I was walking down our neighbourhood sidewalk full of crunchy vermillion, ochre and brown leaves I noticed beautiful leaf impressions. Just as I was about to take a photo to keep this impression forever in my digital memory box I decided to hold it in my heart.  

View full article →

When motherhood gets the best of you and you feel like giving up
When motherhood gets the best of you and you feel like giving up

by Suhaifa Naidoo November 08, 2017 0 Comments

This weekend motherhood got the better of me, what was supposed to be a fun filled weekend with adventure and memories, turned into a miserable few days with me eating chocolate in my bathroom because where else can you go to be alone right? I thought I was doing everything right; I made all her favorite foods, of which she refused to eat none. We then took out all her favorite toys to play with but she wasn’t having any of it, the more toys came out the more screams she let out.

View full article →