Mother Teresa: Facets of Femininity Series
2000
9.5 x 11.5cm (3.7 x 4.5in)
Poster colour and gouache on mountboard
Artist: Rabindra K.D. Kaur Singh

Renowned world wide for her life long commitment to the poor and sick, Mother Teresa epitomises the qualities of love, protection and self sacrifice associated with the ideal of motherhood that has long been regarded as an intrinsic manifestation of femininity. Aptly, Mother Teresa made her home in India - a country where the status of Mother as giver and sustainer of life, is elevated to that of Goddess. Her 'children' were the people of Calcutta to whom she offered hope, good health and the love of Christ for mankind (all symbolised by the pear motif decorating the tiles in the background). Like a true hero she chose to devote her life battling to protecting the weak and oppressed. This is symbolised by the warrior's helmet a poignant detail of which is the pelican motif. Known to feed its starving young with its own flesh, this bird is the Christian symbol of self sacrifice. Drawing again on Christian iconography, the strawberries represent the life of good deeds for which Mother Teresa was highly respected and revered. Her elevated status as a saint is represented by the rosary symbolising the life of prayer or spiritual devotion attributed to a saintly person. The 'Flame-of-the-Forest' provides a similar connotation of sainthood. The burning orange colour of this flower, traditionally used by monks in India to dye their clothes is a symbol of renunciation and sacrifice. As a symbol of love, the 'King of Hearts' playing card that lies in the foreground continues the theme of Mother Teresa as the personification of motherly, saintly and heroic love. Appropriately, it also signifies achievement in the temporal world. Around her neck, mother Teresa wears a garland of honour made up of the colours of the Indian flag. This expresses the deep respect which this Nation held for her and from whom she received the official honour of a State funeral.

Finally, this portrait serves as a reminder (against society's tendency to define and evaluate femininity in purely physical terms) of the existence of higher definitions of femininity that transcend the limitations of the mundane. Admired the world over, for the strength of character that came from an inner, spiritual beauty, Mother Teresa's portrait is a worthy challenge the kind of 'Look at Me', 'Material Girl in a Material World' role models presented by Geri and Madonna.

 

copyright the artists