The Peacock
This scene is that of the peacock whose main claim to fame is his beauty. He claims that he was made by the painter of the world and his pride lies with his external beauty. The peacock wishes to return to paradise from where he was banished. When he tells the Simorgh the reason for his not wanting to participate in the spiritual journey to find the Simorgh, the Hoopoe reminds him how insignificant his wish is compared to their ultimate goal, how the peacock is enamoured by “evanescent dew” when the ocean could be his.
Therefore, I decided to draw the peacock in the basest of the colours- black and white, with a simple pen, so as to downplay his splendid beauty that makes him so vain. Which leads us to the question, what is more important- the body or the soul? The peacock’s conceit is a lesson for us, to rise above superficial matters and transcend to the ultimate goal, which is the divine.
Background Music: Original Composition for Santur
by Danial Shariat