ਊਚ ਨੀਚ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਸੰਲਗਨ ਸਭ ਸੁਖ ਛਤ੍ਰ ॥ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਤ੍ਰੁ ਨ ਕਛੂ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਅ ਸਮਤ ॥

ਊਚ ਨੀਚ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਸੰਲਗਨ ਸਭ ਸੁਖ ਛਤ੍ਰ ॥ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਤ੍ਰੁ ਨ ਕਛੂ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਅ ਸਮਤ ॥

uooch neech bikaar sukirat sa(n)lagan sabh sukh chhatr || mitr satr na kachhoo jaanai sarab jeea samat ||

Simranpreet Anand

2021

Chandoa Sahib, Rihal, Chaur Sahib, plastic marigolds, plastic rose petals, white sheet

In the sacred court, a jewelled canopy, or chandoa sahib, hangs above the seat of the Guru, demarcating the spiritual space of the Guru. In the title of this work, Guru Arjan tells that the canopy of the Guru’s grace covers all beings equally, be they high or low, friend or foe; the sun rises and dispels darkness for all, and the fire provides warmth for anyone who approaches (Ang 1017). If the chandoa sahib covers the canopy of the Guru’s grace and thus becomes a sacred object, does the physical canopy also need its own canopy?

This sculptural piece is comprised of a chandoa sahib hanging above an inverted, circular chandoa sahib, atop which sit a rihal or prayer book holder, and a chaur sahib, or fly-whisk used as an echo of pre-colonial Indian court regalia. The lower chandoa sahib is elevated just enough for its fringes to not touch the ground. Surrounding the platform - and placing it just beyond reach - are rings of plastic marigolds and fake rose petals: a reminder of the replication of natural materials in plastic.