Omphalos of Many, textile sculpture, Art Ichol India, – Sonja Schenkel, 2024
Omphalos of Many
“Omphalos” means navel in Greek. The navel is considered to be a symbol of birth and life; The anchor, our center point. But what does that mean exactly?
“Omphalos of Many” would like to suggest that our common anchor may not be set in a specific point but lies in a way of being. It is created through connection and dialogue. The focus of a centre emerges from deep listening and from freeing ourselves from what we have learned. The textile piece is an offering to earth. It was purposely laid on the ground so that it will eventually be overgrown by plants and taken over by animals. Textile Sculpture – Art Ichol, India – 2024


After two Monsoon’s and one and half year, the textile has disintegrated. The Tulsi at the center and the Mango tree are growing. Fall, 2025

A seedling to the nearby mango tree is growing inside the omphalos


Elements for the ceremony to plant the Tulsi (Holy Basil)