Latest news with #symbolism
CBC
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Sackville artist communicates thoughts through bird portraits, sculptures
Rhythm Rathi 16-piece exhibition in Saint John wraps up in late August Mixed-media artist Indu Varma of Sackville, N.B., looks at birds from a different perspective. Varma, who grew up in India, has created a 16-piece exhibit called Birds & their Symbolism. It is inspired by stories from Hindu mythology, symbolic meanings of birds across different cultures, and her childhood experiences. The exhibit of paintings and sculptures will be displayed at the Saint John Arts Centre until Aug. 29. Image | birds exhibit 4 Caption: Varma's series is inspired by stories from Hindu mythology, symbolic meanings of birds across different cultures and her childhood experiences. (Indu Varma) Open Image in New Tab "The birds to me symbolize freedom, open spaces, flying high, not having any boundaries, living in the moment.... I think those are some lessons we can learn from these feathered friends," she said. Varma calls birds messengers, teachers, storytellers and a bridge between earth and sky. She describes her style as abstract realism. She said her focus is always to engage her viewers and make them think beyond the subject of the exhibit. She credits her Indian background for the vibrant colours in her work. "All these things are in my psyche and they automatically show up." Growing up, Varma often saw her father feed stray birds and animals, she said. She watched parrots visit her mother's garden and watched peacocks dance in the rain. She said those were some sights that inspired her. "Peacock also is known to eat snakes, so it's kind of like … they swallow the poison of life and yet they emit their beauty and grace." She said the series began about five years ago when she was researching crows for another project. Varma said it gradually evolved to other birds. According to her observation and research, the birds she chose have symbolic meanings in both Indian and Canadian cultures, said Varma. Varma is a former president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association. As a leader in education, she always looked at the Canada goose as an example of leadership. "When they fly in the V formation, the one that is ahead has to work the hardest, but when it gets tired, someone else replaces it, so it's a model of shared leadership." Image | birds exhibit 1 Caption: Varma has 16 works on display. (Indu Varma) Open Image in New Tab She said those attending the exhibition will learn how she has metaphorically used birds to convey messages and tell stories about freedom, exploration, the possibilities that lie ahead and the fearlessness of exploring outside of one's comfort zone. Andrew Kierstead, executive director of the Saint John Arts Centre, calls it a "very strong exhibition." "As an artist, she wants to communicate a particular thought or meaning to the work that she's created and that certainly comes across very clearly," he said. Kierstead cited several pieces from Varma's display as his favourites. He said the fact that every exhibit is deeply personal to the artist and how she tries to represent two cultures is impressive. "It is finding that common thread between two cultures that are half a world away."
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The unsettling symbol quietly creeping onto US state and city flags... as fears mount over what it may represent
A strange and 'unsettling' new symbol is quietly sweeping across the United States – and some Americans fear it's no accident. Dozens of cities and states have adopted – or are considering – new flag designs featuring the unfamiliar eight-point star, a symbol critics claim is more common in Islam than in US history.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'It's all about symbolism': The tight-lipped Royal Family is sending a message with its trip to Canada
OTTAWA — As an institution that has for centuries employed symbolism with surgical precision, the timing of the King's visit to Canada may be more revealing than the itinerary itself. It's considered a core principle of the British constitutional monarchy that the ceremonial head of state of the United Kingdom, Canada and other Commonwealth countries not comment on or become directly involved in politics. It's also a key component in trying to maintain the public's trust. So symbols often substitute in the Royal Family's world where words are absent and could be considered to be on the wrong side of a delicate balancing act. When reliable Commonwealth loyalist Canada came under economic and political attack in recent months from U.S. President Donald Trump, for example, King Charles III stayed quiet. Instead, he and Queen Camilla sent symbolic support across the Atlantic, planting a red maple tree at Buckingham Palace. But the King and Queen are sending a clear message in support of Canadian sovereignty, said Thomas Morin-Cabana, the national chairman of The Crown Society of Canada. Earlier this year, Trump had made repeated references to annexing Canada and often called former prime minister Justin Trudeau the governor of the 51st American state. 'It's all about symbolism,' said Morin-Cabana. Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated as much when earlier this month he announced the monarch's visit, with a clear nod to the Trump threats. 'This is an historic honour that matches the weight of our time,' he told reporters during his first press conference after the election. The Royal couple's two-day visit to Canada this week is their first since Charles assumed the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. The visit will also mark the first time that a monarch has read the speech from the throne in the Canadian Parliament, instead of the Governor General, since 1977. The speech, which normally lays out the government's broad goals, will be delivered at a delicate time in Canada. The country faces a housing crisis and a teetering medical system, while the economy is threatened by ballooning government debt, sluggish growth and ongoing tariff threats from the south. Carney has said that Canadians shouldn't expect things with the U.S. to return to how they used to be any time soon. André Lecours, a political science professor at the University of Ottawa, said the timing of the visit is good for Canada because it sends a message of unity following the Trump threats. 'If you mess with us, you're almost messing with the Crown.' But the Crown is also conscious of Britain's national interests too. The U.K., like most countries, has also been involved in tariff disputes with Trump and reached a deal of sorts with the U.S. earlier this month. When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Trump in Washington, he quite deliberately produced a written invitation from King Charles to Trump, a known Royal admirer, for a state visit at Buckingham Palace. 'This is very special. This is unprecedented,' Starmer flattered Trump, as he placed a hand on the U.S. president's right shoulder. 'I think that symbolizes the strength of the relationship between us.' While the Crown's approach to recent Canada-U.S. relations may be nuanced, Canadians also have mixed views on the role of the monarch in a modern democracy and of the monarch himself. According to a poll conducted earlier this month, Canadians' opinions are evenly split on the monarchy and King Charles. The poll, conducted May 16-18 by Montreal-based Léger for the Association for Canadian Studies, found that 50 per cent of Canadians have a 'very positive' or 'somewhat positive' view of the monarchy. Atlantic Canadians (57 per cent) expressed the most positive view, while Quebecers (37 per cent) were the least positive. The poll surveyed 1,537 Canadians and has a margin of error of 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The poll found that Canadians' views of King Charles were similarly divided, with 48 per cent of respondents expressing an either 'very' or 'somewhat positive' view, and 52 per cent saying that they had a negative view. The monarch's highest ratings were in Manitoba-Saskatchewan (57 per cent), the poll found, and the lowest in Quebec (39 per cent). Jack Jedwab, the association's president and chief executive officer, said the numbers show that Canadians are sharply split in their views of the monarchy and King Charles. 'There's no consensus.' National Post Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
National Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'It's all about symbolism': The tight-lipped Royal Family is sending a message with its trip to Canada
OTTAWA — As an institution that has for centuries employed symbolism with surgical precision, the timing of the King's visit to Canada may be more revealing than the itinerary itself. Article content Article content It's considered a core principle of the British constitutional monarchy that the ceremonial head of state of the United Kingdom, Canada and other Commonwealth countries not comment on or become directly involved in politics. It's also a key component in trying to maintain the public's trust. Article content Article content So symbols often substitute in the Royal Family's world where words are absent and could be considered to be on the wrong side of a delicate balancing act. When reliable Commonwealth loyalist Canada came under economic and political attack in recent months from U.S. President Donald Trump, for example, King Charles III stayed quiet. Article content Instead, he and Queen Camilla sent symbolic support across the Atlantic, planting a red maple tree at Buckingham Palace. Article content But the King and Queen are sending a clear message in support of Canadian sovereignty, said Thomas Morin-Cabana, the national chairman of The Crown Society of Canada. Earlier this year, Trump had made repeated references to annexing Canada and often called former prime minister Justin Trudeau the governor of the 51st American state. Article content 'It's all about symbolism,' said Morin-Cabana. Article content Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated as much when earlier this month he announced the monarch's visit, with a clear nod to the Trump threats. Article content Article content 'This is an historic honour that matches the weight of our time,' he told reporters during his first press conference after the election. Article content The Royal couple's two-day visit to Canada this week is their first since Charles assumed the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. The visit will also mark the first time that a monarch has read the speech from the throne in the Canadian Parliament, instead of the Governor General, since 1977. Article content The speech, which normally lays out the government's broad goals, will be delivered at a delicate time in Canada. The country faces a housing crisis and a teetering medical system, while the economy is threatened by ballooning government debt, sluggish growth and ongoing tariff threats from the south. Carney has said that Canadians shouldn't expect things with the U.S. to return to how they used to be any time soon.
