Celebrating Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday Through Art    A Timely Tribute

The new Art for land exhibition “The Inner Awakening and the Outer Expression” is inspired by the Four Austerities as defined by Sri Aurobindo and the fifth vision of his “Five Dreams” – awakened individuals, a spiritualised society and the unification of humanity. Auroville aspires to be the nucleus for this inner awakening, outer expression and manifestation, where higher consciousness is lived daily through work, creativity, and collective aspiration. These are the deep themes that have inspired the participating artists.

Art for Land has been an inspiring expression of Auroville creativity at the service of the Auroville dream since its start in 2016 as a support action for Auroville’s needed land consolidation. It has become a respected showcase for the works of Auroville artists and friend artists.

The works have been donated for raising funds for Auroville’s land through

the Acres for Auroville land campaign.

We warmly thank all the participating artists for their generous solidarity!

The Inner Awakening and the Outer Expression is an exhibition of magical beauty bringing together creative works in various media, from textiles to paintings, sculpture and photographs created by artists from Auroville, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, France and Italy.

Sri Aurobindo’s birthday is a time of deep significance – a moment when individuals and communities align with his vision for humanity’s spiritual evolution.

By opening in Sri Aurobindo’s birthday week, the exhibition is a celebration of his life and work. It is meant to be a collective invocation, linking the artists’ inner journeys to the shared aspiration of a spiritualised society. It is an invitation for all to join in the movement toward a higher, more conscious future.

The Hall of Peace is primarily devoted to the magic of textiles and presents a narrative of continuity – starting with the Ashram’s traditions of hand embroidery and painting to how Auroville’s textile units carry this heritage forward. Here, the dialogue between past and present unfolds in a serene space where visitors can absorb and reflect in the presence of the Peace Table.

In the Unity Hall, the exhibition expands into a multi-disciplinary experience. Each artist’s inner Tapasya takes form in original works across multiple media- textile, visual art, still image, and word – inviting viewers to witness how silence, discipline, and aspiration manifest outwardly as colour, form, and texture.

 The result is a collective offering that honours Sri Aurobindo’s vision of truth, beauty, and consciousness shaping a new world. This exhibition is both a tribute and an active participation in that vision, presenting art not only for aesthetic appreciation but as a channel for higher realities. Placing the exhibition during this occasion strengthens its purpose: to remind us that art, in all its forms – painting, music, dance, poetry, sculpture,architecture, and more – can awaken the soul and uplift consciousness.

 When created consciously, art becomes a force of transformation, echoing the supramental aspiration that Sri Aurobindo and The Mother sought to bring into the world.

Sri Aurobindo’s “Five Dreams” and the Four Austerities

The fifth of Sri Aurobindo’s famous “Five Dreams” offers the spiritual foundation for the emergence of a spiritualised society and the unification of humanity- not through uniformity, religion, or politics, but through an inner transformation. It is a human transformation which he said was inevitable, transcending ego, nation, religion and creed.

Sri Aurobindo’s Four Austerities (disciplines) – Love, Knowledge, Power, and Beauty – are not mere practices but transformative inner disciplines. Each is paired with a corresponding liberation, guiding both personal and collective evolution toward a higher consciousness. These Tapasyas (inner transformative practices) are forms of concentrated inner effort, refining the soul and opening the way to supramental transformation.

When pursued together, they form a living matrix: Beauty lends Power to Knowledge, and all give birth to Love.

They connect individuals beyond form, turning art and life into a shared movement toward truth and unity.

In the words of The Mother,

“Each form of beauty is an answer from the Divine”

About the Artists

To Be Two – Known for innovative designs and meticulous fit, Auroville’s “To Be Two “works with the finest fabrics and an environmentally conscious approach. They upcycle and recycle to craft unique pieces from locally sourced materials, all handmade by talented community artisans.

Hibiscus Heroes – Founded in 2020 in Auroville, Hibiscus Heroes creates sustainable, slow fashion using plant-based fabrics dyed with flowers, seeds, and barks – free from chemicals to protect land and rivers. Inspired by ancient South Indian crafts, each piece is handcrafted by skilled artisans, celebrating beauty, abundance, and the well-being of wearing nature.

Adil Writer – Architect-turned-ceramist, with a Master’s from the University of Houston, (Texas, USA). Aurovilian Adil is a partner at Mandala Pottery, Auroville. His ceramics and paintings have been exhibited across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the USA, and he is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland.

Anna Morozova – Aurovilian, born in Russia, she founded the White Peacock Clay Studio for children and adults. Since 2015, she has participated in exhibitions, residencies, and symposiums, creating intricate, architecturally inspired works that have inspired others to continue her craft.

Crystal Michielsen Auroville-based artist exploring lines, mandalas, and natural motifs, Crystal draws inspiration from India’s golden light and the tree of life. She blends drawing, pyrography, and mixed media to create works evoking harmony, hope, and higher consciousness.

Dilip Patel – An architect and artist based in Pondicherry and connected to the Ashram, Dilip works across art, design, and architecture. Born in Uganda, he studied in India and the UK, and has worked in the UAE. He has generously participated in many Art for Land exhibitions

Kratu – Italian-born, multidisciplinary artist who made Auroville his home in 1991. Known for his works in clay and his lifelong exploration of the female form, his project on the four aspects of Shakti reflected a profound spiritual and artistic journey, until his passing in 2024.

Lara Boriotti – Born in Milan in 1971, Lara continues a family tradition of embroidery passed down from her great-grandmother. Inspired by The Mother’s symbol since her first visit to India in 2016, she blends feminine heritage with a deep sense of beauty and serenity.

Marie-Claire Barsotti – A multidisciplinary creator specializing in gold details, Aurovilian Marie-Claire embraces creativity in all forms as a joyful path to freedom, self-revelation, and Oneness.

Marlenka Gray – Inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s vision that “all life is yoga,” Aurovilian Marlenka creates beauty as an offering to the Divine. Influenced by Asian brush painting, calligraphy, and floral watercolors, she paints as a conscious path of self-surrender.

Paulette Hadnagy – A senior Aurovilian, Paulette is a photographer, author, and compiler of numerous works on Sri Aurobindo’s vision, Integral Yoga, and Auroville’s history, including “At the Crossroads”, “Immortal India”, “The Auroville Foundation Act” and “The Mother’s Guidelines”.

Pierre Legrand – Paris-born engineer-turned-artist, a longtime Aurovilian who began his creative journey after meeting the Mother in 1968. He developed a unique coded script exploring cellular structures, space, and porosity across painting, sculpture, installations, and music, and has exhibited internationally, including at UNESCO and the India Art Fair.

Veronik Menanteau – Paris-based, visual artist and writer, Veronik founded the non-profit “Art as First Aid Energy”, offering art-healing workshops worldwide for vulnerable children. Inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga, she develops tools to awaken creativity and continues to lead workshops internationally.

Sunanda Patel – an Ashram artist who has been instrumental at the Sri Smriti museum in Pondicherry for preserving and showcasing treasured articles of The Mother’s and Ashram history. She has also generously donated her lampshade paintings for Art for Land.

Warm thanks to volunteer Ashik Muraleedharan for his photos of the exhibition!

Works in the Unity Hall are available for purchase at the Unity Pavilion. Proceeds go for Auroville land consolidation and protection via the Acres for Auroville campaign.

We sincerely thank you for your solidarity, encouragement, and support!

The Art for Land, Unity Pavilion, and Acres for Auroville teams

The response was extraordinary. In every session, the children showed spontaneous enthusiasm and a deep natural openness. Whether directly participating or observing, they absorbed the exercises with intensity, reflection, and joy. At one school, only twelve students could participate due to time constraints, but the rest of the children sat silently watching—and inwardly participating. Without pens, paper, or colours, they followed the instructions within themselves, showing how deeply prepared and attuned they already were to the inner journey.

Such soul-readiness is rarely seen in such young students. They approached the activities not as games, but as explorations of something real within. Their engagement wasn’t forced—it was flowing. They seemed to know, instinctively, that education means discovery of the soul.

The Teachers – Anchors of Conscious Work

Equally remarkable was the dedication of the teachers and administrators. Across the schools visited, there was a common spirit of self-discipline, simplicity, and spiritual aspiration. The schools are not merely spaces of academic learning, but gardens of conscious growth, where the teachers themselves are active sadhaks, committed not just to instruction but to the awakening of the child’s soul.

There was no rigidity or formality, but a living order—self-imposed and joyfully maintained. The farm work, kitchen gardens, flower beds, and sustainable practices all form an integrated part of the curriculum. It is learning through living, and it reflects The Mother’s vision of education as the unfolding of consciousness through all aspects of life.

One could feel in these educators a quiet pride—not boastful, but full of gentle reverence for the work they are doing, and for the children they are helping to blossom.

A Shared Future: Odisha and Auroville

Jaya’s visit also reinforced the profound connection foreseen by The Mother between Odisha and Auroville. Odisha, as the Mother once said, is where the force of Sri Aurobindo’s Action was first to be seeded before it moved to the rest of India and the world. Auroville, with its focus on building the City of Dawn, carries the complementary mission of preparing the cradle for the new being.

There is so much to learn from one another. Odisha brings the force of rooted sincerity and lived action; Auroville brings the aspiration for future realization and experimentation. Together, they are pieces of the same evolving vision.

The visit also supported the expansion of auroglobal.org, an initiative inspired by the Mother's vision for Sri Auirobindo's Action to radiate into the world and to document, share, and make visible the widespread work of Integral Yoga across the world. It is not an institutional site, but a living offering—built by devotees for devotees. Institutions and centers across Odisha and elsewhere are invited to join, share their activities, and collaborate towards a unified movement of growth.

Looking Ahead

The visit to Odisha was not an end—it was a beginning. The seeds sown during this trip will grow into future collaborations, deeper exchanges, and new materials specifically designed to help children directly enter the path of Integral Education through experiential, soul-centered methods.

Unity Pavilion, Auroville, warmly invites schools and centers from Odisha to visit, collaborate, and co-create learning experiences that reflect the true purpose of education: to reveal the Divine within.

Let us walk this path together—with joy, humility, and shared aspiration.