Deepavali Card : 2019

{exploring aphorism through letter forms }

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As a graphic designer and cultural researcher, I started the Deepavali card project in 2018. The project celebrates my bicultural identity, Kannglish (Kannada, native language + English), and the Sanskrit mantras (verses) from various Upanishads (scared texts), which are spiritual aphorisms promoting peace and harmony. These verses are usually written in Devanagiri script, but I have been exploring Kannada letter forms. These forms are derived from ancient Brahmi script, and is the spoken language in Karnataka state where I am from. Kannada script is used to depict the mantras combining with Latin letter forms to denote and unravel new meaning. This project has been my desire to hold on to my cultural history and language for future generations to embrace. 

This is my second card in the series. The Sanskrit mantra on the card reads asato ma sadgamaya,  tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,  mrtyorma amrtam gamaya, om shanti shanti shanti from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The interactive card uses black light sensitive ink to highlight, since the mantra means Lead us to truth, knowledge and a higher realm. Peace.