Page 40 - Studio International - December 1971

Tantra The exhibition of Tantra on show at the many different schools of thought on this

revealed Hayward Gallery from 3o September to subject and the reason for the seemingly
baffling complexity of tantra is that it touches
14 November has been an event which could be
a catalyst to the formation of new conceptions upon so many different levels and approaches to
Robert Fraser as to the purpose and direction of the art of the sadhana; philosophy, science and ritual are all
future. In this instance I mean art taken as a involved in what was originally one system of
global entity, not as something divided up into thought based in vedanta. In recent centuries
Western art or Eastern art. The first thing that cults have grown up which have advocated
might strike the viewer was that the show taken specialized approaches, of which tantra asana
as a whole revealed a vision of a very ancient and is one; it is this one approach that has in the
systematic culture whose symbols and myths present day been identified most closely with
are alive right up to the present day; a Hindu or tantra, and its over-emphasis has given tantra a
a Buddhist could walk through the show and notoriety which is based upon misconception of
constantly be made aware of things which are its full range. Nevertheless in this show all this
a part of his own consciousness and personality. enormous variety of imagery and symbol has
It is this aspect of tantra as a living been brought together under the umbrella of
sign-language and a living mythology which tantra art, as being visualizations of various
gives it special significance to us now. The basis methods towards the pursuit of sadhana and
of all tantric iconography is function; although man's relation to the universe.
tantra is based in the expansion of consciousness In style and content these exhibits differ
(sanskrit root TAN expand TRA) its purpose is to widely. Many of them are what are known as
provide and explain methods by which the Indian classical art, others are 'folk' or primitive
expansion is to be achieved. There have been forms; on the other hand the diagrams and
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