360 Vessels from a Temple
360 Vessels from a Temple
1995, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore
2023, Dancing with the Cosmos, The Private Museum, Singapore
Propelled by early acclaim at Shell Discovery (1992) and Tropical Vibrance (1993), Kumari Nahappan pursued further studies at LASALLE’s MFA program, culminating in her landmark installation “360 Vessels from the Temple.” This immersive piece wove sacred Hindu motifs and ritual objects—bronze temple vessels borrowed from Sri Sivan Temple—into a contemporary art framework. Geometric formations of circles, squares, and interpenetrating triangles symbolized cosmic forces like the sun and moon, evoking cycles of time, energy, and renewal.
At the heart of the installation, a luminous center—framed by flickering oil lamps—invited meditative engagement, while herbal-infused vessels signified dormant yet potent vitality. Visitors were guided into the space through a staggered entrance, encouraged to remove their footwear in a deliberate nod to temple rituals. By transforming these sacred conventions into a dynamic, interactive environment, Kumari illuminated universal themes of devotion, transition, and interconnectedness—heralding an enduring legacy of blending tradition with bold artistic vision.
The copper pots, originally employed in the installation of 360 Vessels from the Temple, would also be renewed as a new sculptural piece titled Reincarnations—an allusion to its previous incarnations.