Where Painting and Poetry Merge

We are here, sometimes hidden, other times visible. We are here, some of us Moslems, some Jews, and others Christians. Unless our heart becomes the mould of every heart each day, we will come out with a different face. ~Rumi

In recent years, Rumi’s poetry has been a source of inspiration for my work. His spirituality and the power of his imagery evoke my image of paintings and urge me to put them in shapes and colors. I often paint with watercolor and acrylic media because I feel they are best suited to express the mood of Rumi’s poems. My interest in Rumi’s vision grew alongside Zen Buddhism which I have known since my childhood. I find a common ground between them. In my paintings I do not try to illustrate Rumi’s poems but rather illuminate the inner human spirit articulated by Rumi.

Here I would like to share some of my paintings inspired by Rumi’s poems. These poems have been translated from the Persian by my husband Rasoul Sorkhabi, who directs the Rumi Poetry Club.

About Author and Painter:

Setsuko Yoshida is a member of the US National Watercolor Society and lives in Salt Lake City. Her website is:

www.setsukopaintings.com

For more of Rumi’s poetry visit: www.rumipoetryclub.com

In the realm of the Unseen

there exists a sandal wood, burning.

Human love is

the smoke of that sandal wood.

~Rumi

(For the full multimedia experience, visit:  OM Times August 2010 Edition)