Sultana’s Dream: House in Heart Garden: Magical Symbolism and Interdisciplinary Expression

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In Chitra Ganesh’s series of prints inspired by Sultana’s Dream, a story written by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain in 1905, Ganesh explores female identity, magical symbolism, nature, myth, and the power of dreams. Ganesh’s work is detailed, intricate, and nuanced, which represents well the infinite power inherent to Hossain’s fabled feminine utopia. The Brooklyn based visual artist translates literary excellence into several printed scenes by utilizing a combination of technical artistic skill and deft, fluid, intimate imagination.

I was drawn to this series due to the quality of the images created by Ganesh, a master of varied mediums- charcoal, mural, digital collage, photography, printmaking, and even web projects. Additionally, as I am a writer who focuses on devoting herself to the creation of fiction, poetry, and illustrated prose, I am fascinated by studying artists that produce works inspired by specific pieces of literature, or, conversely by writers who write inspired by pieces of art.

Ganesh’s Sultana’s Dream: House in Heart Garden illustrates the home of the character Sister Sara in Hossain’s Sultana’s Dream. This feminist utopia allows the reader to explore a world in which women are liberated, educated, and in power. In this matriarchal society, virtue, intellect, and harmony rule instead of violence, greed, and toxic productivity. Ganesh’s envisionment of Sister Sarah’s home portrays her abode nestled into a pumping, breathing heart. This heart is woven into the depths of the lush forestry of Sultana’s dreamt natural haven. The futuristic architecture of Sarah’s home is webbed within the atriums of Mother Earth. Ganesh’s portrayal of the scene alludes to the technological advancements of this feminine society, the importance of harmony between humanity and nature that allows for this technological success, and the atmosphere of peace, kindness, trust, and honesty that arises from thinking of the Earth as your home with the heart of the earth acting as a very organ of your soul. Alternatively, the depiction of Sister Sarah’s home in Sultana’s Dream: House of Heart Garden is inspired by Ganesh’s interpretation of the deeper meaning of this society, varying slightly from the descriptions in the story itself, that mentioned a heart shaped garden, rather than Ganesh’s glorious, scientifically accurate heart that houses Sarah’s garden, and furthermore, her nest. Ganesh’s depiction of Sarah’s home simultaneously illustrates how the story is nestled within the narrators mind, as the home is nestled directly in an internal organ.

I deeply admire these prints, and love studying the various manners in which Ganesh derives endless visions from a singular story. In my personal creative work, I have found that my poetry can be extended through illustrative work. Additionally, I began a study of what I call Literary Choreography several years ago, in which I create repertoire based on pieces of literature I write or analyze. I was extremely inspired by Ganesh’s work to create in my own time, for which I am exceedingly grateful.

Marie Lindsey (Class of 2021)