Yantras are contemplative mystic diagrams used to focus the mind, cultivate inner control, and free oneself from the habitual distractions that hinder connection with one’s true source and center.
This talk brings together artist Francine Mury and Maya Burger, professor of Indian Studies, to explore a collection of mystic diagrams by Raja Babu Sharma—an artistic treasury that has inspired Mury’s work since the 1990s, when she saw Sharma’s works for the first time at the exhibition “Les Magiciens de la Terre” at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and traveled then to Jaipur to meet the artist in person.
Francine Mury, studies in visual arts across England, Switzerland, and France. Since the 1980s, her frequent travels to India, combined with the influence of Tantric art and Vedanta philosophy, have profoundly shaped her exploration of spiritual thought. Her work reflects a deep engagement with the transition and interplay between the principles of nature and art.
From the outset, Mury’s artistic research has centered on color and form as expressions of mental states. Her work has been showcased in exhibitions and art projects in Switzerland, Germany, and China, earning her several prestigious Swiss awards. Pieces of her art are featured in both public and private collections within Switzerland and internationally.
Maya Burger is honorary professor of Indian Studies at the University of Lausanne. Beside her interest in Indian cultural and religious traditions, she also focuses on the exchange processes between Europe and India. The pictural tradition of Yantra, important for ritual practices, may, in their abstract representations, be a source of inspiration to artists of Europe, whereas Indian artists rethink their tradition through Western impulses. The dynamics of this creative network produce stunning innovations and experiences.