THE FESTIVAL OF COLOUR: BE INSPIRED

Spring is the celebrated season of love, what better way to illustrate happiness and love then through the bursts of colour getting thrown in your face. The DegreeArt team were truely gutted to have missed this year's Holi celebrations in Londons Richmond Park (We were much too excited about Abigail Box's show 'The Great Escape' now showing at DegreeArt's Execution Room) we totally forgot to think of anything else, So we thought we would bring light to this alternative festival.

The religious festival of Holi is to mark the official coming of spring, beats watching Alan Titchmarsh on the BBC as this Hindu tradition is celebrated with dancing, singing, and throwing of powder paint and coloured water,

The origins of the festival lies with Krishna who was very mischievous as a young boy and threw coloured water over the gopis (milkmaids) This developed into the practical jokes and games of Holi. The story of Prahlad is seen to symbolise good overcoming evil and is why traditionally bonfires are lit at Holi. Prahlad was a prince. His father, the king wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him. But Prahlad refused and worshipped Lord Vishnu instead. The king's sister Holika, who was supposed to be immune to fire, tricked her nephew Prahlad into sitting on her lap in a bonfire in order to destroy him. But because she was using her powers for evil, the plan failed and Prahlad emerged from the fire unharmed, while Holika was devoured by the flames. In some parts of India effigies of Holika are burnt on the fire. Ashes from Holi bonfires are thought to bring good luck.' (http://bbc.in/cFL1kX)

Here's how they celebrated Holi in Utah America, last year we love it when cultures come together, take a look and let us know what you think. 

Be Inspired check out some of the work bysome of our DegreeArt artists

Victoria Horken 

Pools

£1,700.00

Emily Krainc

Aquarius 

£400.00

Wendy Hyde 

Sweet Delicate One 

£795.00

Emma Barford 

Painted Light #2 Still 19

£325