asian art

Shiva, King of Dancers (Shiva Nataraja)

As Nataraja, the king of dancers, Shiva dances the universe into and out of existence. The sound of his drum heralds its creation; his burning flame signals its final conflagration. He raises one hand to allay fear and points another toward his upraised foot, a symbol of release. In his dance, Shiva tramples on the demon of forgetfulness, shown in the form of an infant. The cycle of time—past, present, future—runs through the circle of flame within which Shiva dances.

Oceanic Art