Opening Reception: July 6 (4-6PM)

Diner with the artists (6-7PM) - LIMITED SEATINGS

Spirits of India

Mary Aiu, Oliver Klink, Chester Ng

In the book “A Passage to India”, E.M. Forster made frequent references to animals in India. These animals gave impetus for growth, served as a conduit of love and unity and symbolized Indian culture. Through the variety of animals portrayed in this novel, we begin to comprehend the complexity and spirit of India itself.

Elephants are the preeminent symbols of strength, wisdom, intelligence and royalty. In the 4,000 years since domestication, elephants significantly shaped human history in areas ranging from warfare, religion and culture to the economy. They have been worshiped in the Hindu religion and throughout the folktales of Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of wisdom and intellect.

As in the Ganesh folktale, the survival of elephants is in great danger due to the pressures from hunting, habitat loss and other human–elephant conflicts. From an historical context, their cultural stature today seems diminished as well. Are these animals, once adorned in regality, now simply reduced to a commercial role in tourism?

The Marwari horses, on the other hand, are still revered in the India culture. Native to the Marwari region (Rajasthan, India), the Marwari horse is a rare breed known for its hardiness. A descendant of native Indian ponies crossed with Arabian horses, the Marwari are uniquely recognized by their inward-turning ear tips.

Historically the horses were used to combat elephants and were also instrumental in shaping Indian history. Their breeding followed such a strict selective process that they were referred to as divine beings, known on the battlefield for their bravery and loyalty. After near extinction following the arrival of the British in India in the early 1600's, the Marwari horses are now making a comeback. What does their future hold for them?

We share the beauty of these animals and the connection that still exists between these magnificent beasts and mankind. Our hope is their existence will continue to thrive as we share this planet as one.

About the Artists

Mary Aiu is a fine art photographer based in Carmel, who pursues beautiful horses from around the world with her camera in hand, creating imagery that is inspired by their being and her ideals of beauty and emotional connections. She enjoys working beyond the camera capture creating Photomontages to further shape her work on a more personal level that blur the lines between the imagery and the imagined.

Oliver Klink is a professional photographer based in Los Gatos, CA. His studies in physics and photography were the catalyst for his love of light and the complexity or our existence. As a fine art photographer, he travels the world to capture the intricacy of our ecosystems and the increasingly complex modern world constantly unfolding in new and unexpected ways. He captures our cultural changes, the environments we inhabit, and the insights into our world and ourselves. His artistic goal is telling stories with his images, making the viewers dream, and providing a glimpse of “the world as it should be”. In 2016 he was selected as Top 50 fine artists at the Critical Mass Event.

Chester Ng is a Monterey based Fine Art photographer who focuses on dance, motion, abstract and cultural themes. His images capture movements and expressions as well as the encounter between the subject’s energy and himself. He combines a journalistic style with an aesthetic sense to create images with mood, emotion and relevance. He invites viewers to create their own "real or imagined" stories with his images and to celebrate the spontaneity of the moment.

All images are for sale. Please inquire directly with the artist

Mary Aiu: marymea@aol.com - 707-330-7926
www.maryaiu.com

Oliver Klink: oliver@oliverklinkphotography.com - 408-910-6701
www.oliverklinkphotography.com

Chester Ng: stylishpix@yahoo.com - 831-375-1103