20. Back Home

Once again, I was back in my old world. The installation objects took a bit longer to arrive, since they had not been redirected from London. A vase with roses was decorating my table, connecting the two worlds for me. At first, returning made me feel insecure. The mental image that was taken on departure had to be readjusted to reality. But many things were soon familiar, and I was happy to be here again.
    The parcels with further works, which I had posted from Varanasi, lay, somewhat disheveled from their voyage, in my studio. To untie them and exhibit them would be one more homecoming. I was curious to see how they would be perceived in this new environment, and what they would tell of my experiences in India. But this was a step for which I was not ready yet. I was still suspended between two worlds.

My husband Jörg had organised a surprise party to celebrate my birthday and my return. He had somehow made me wait in my studio, and suddenly some 25 friends where present as if out of a dream – people who all had, in the widest sense, something to do with my India visit, but whom I had not expected to see that soon, and together. Anna, who had visited me in Varanasi. Alexandre, who lived for some time in the studio and had recorded my performance on video. Meris, who works with me on the art project for girls, Thomas, with whom I had prepared the exhibition in Delhi, Julian and Basil, my two sons, Jörg, my husband and many others who are close to me. The many birthday wishes, first in Delhi and now here, seemed like a good omen for the coming 50 years.
    Many people in Switzerland and in India have contributed to the wonderful experience I had. Some of our threads, or should I say strings, are still in my hands, and I look forward to tie them together at both ends.