Artist hooked on to Vastu

By Bindu Jacob

NEW DELHI, JAN. 31. ``It's the pull of the invisible. The search into what exist but cannot be seen,'' says artist and Vastu expert Peter F. Strauss, now here as part of the ongoing German Festival in India.

Besides having his art exhibited at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Strauss has put up an exhibition based on Vastu study at Purana Quila park. The Fort structure, according to Strauss, is the perfect example of the art of Vastu, which aims at concentrating and spreading goodness. ``All ancient religious places and towns were built on the basic principles of Vastu, which we have forgotten over the years.

``Another example of Vastu is the Qutab Minar,'' points out Strauss. ``Both the Purana Quila and Qutab Minar show powerful positive vibrations which make the site of construction just right. These structures point to the fact that people of those times were aware of the Vastu art. The vibrations here claim that both structures have an underwater outlet flowing beneath the ground.''

Strauss, working with his nylon compass which, according to him, can detect underground water sources, metal and magnetic waves, has put up exhibition titled ``Vastu Purusha -- Global Grid'' at Purana Quila. ``The concept is based on the association between the ancient tradition of geomancy of Vastu and the more recent understanding of the `radiaesthesie' in Europe as well as the link between contemporary art movement in the West, such as concept art and land art with a ``construction art'' that has been applied for thousands of years in India and can be traced back to the fourth millennium, through town planning at Mohenjodaro and Harappa,'' said Strauss.

Talking of his project in Delhi, Strauss says: ``The basic structure is a rectangle measuring 17 by 17 metres divided into 81 squares of 9 by 9 meters made of handmade bricks. The central axis is then marked with rows of bricks measuring approximately 2 meters in width. The centre of the rectangle therefore forms an energetic `high frequency zone'. This can be closely compared with the centre of ancient Rome township. The brick is left for six to eight weeks at a selected place. When these structures are removed from these sites they can be seen as a `negative picture' in the lawn.''

According to the artist the knowledge of Vastu can improve life and in ancient times this art was put into practice, but this is a knowledge that has now been forgotten. ``It is up to us those who have rediscovered the goodness of Vastu -- to spread the knowledge that we have found,'' says Strauss.

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