Before Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, attained enlightenment, he was a prince in a royal house in ancient India. Born around the 6th to 5th century BCE in Lumbini, now in Nepal, he grew up in luxury as the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. His father, determined to protect him from sorrow and suffering, kept him within the palace walls and provided him with every conceivable wealth and comfort. Siddhartha lived a life of abundance, enjoying music, feasting and love, married to his wife Yasodhara.
Despite his privileged position, Siddhartha began to question life in his later years. He left the palace and was confronted with the 'four encounters': an old man, a sick man, a dead man and an ascetic monk. These experiences opened his eyes to the reality of suffering and the transience of life. This led him to give up his royal life and seek a path to liberation.
His journey from prince to spiritual leader symbolizes the search for inner wisdom and enlightenment. Siddhartha's past as a prince makes his story accessible to many: it shows that even the most privileged lives can feel empty without spiritual fulfillment.
After closing my gallery in Antwerp, I ended up at Werk Aan De Muur where I found the opportunity to share all the beauty that has passed through my hands through this way. Furthermore, I also have the permission of some artists I have been working with for.. Read more…