Statistical References
1. Largest Drawing: 66 yards x 18 inches
This was a roll of tracing paper purchased by the artist in Suva. On it, he drew 1,181 birds.
2. Most Birds on One Page: 96,588
This work was completed on December 11th, 1993, over a period of three days (20 hours in total). The sheet size measures 32” x 26”.
3. Implements Used:
Ball-point pens in various colours, felt tip marker pens, acrylic paint, single colour crayons, rainbow crayons, battery-operated pen, gold and silver metallic pens.
4. Materials Used:
Acid-free art paper, note-paper, canvas, foam core, graph paper, tracing paper, white satin fabric, white cotton fabric, Indian hand-made marbled paper, Japanese rice paper, oak tag, postcards, envelopes, computer-generated grids, calendars, lined paper and sheet music.
5. Countries where Sri Chinmoy drew Soul-Birds:
Malta (the beginning of the project), Sicily, Tenerife, USA, Thailand, Viet Nam, Philippines, Japan, Canada, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Western Samoa and Fiji (the completion of one million).
6. Cities in the USA where Sri Chinmoy drew Soul-Birds:
New York, Washington DC, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Honolulu.
7. Galleries of Sri Chinmoy’s Soul-Birds:
January 10th, 1992 — Riu Bonanza Hotel, Puerto La Cruz, Tenerife
May 5th-14th, 1992 — 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, Manhattan, NY (dedicated to Raisa Maximovna Gorbacheva)
May 31st, 1992 — Aspiration-Ground Meditation Park, Queens, NY
October 1992 — Commonwealth Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
October 1992 — Cambridge Central Library, Cambridge, England
November 1992 — The Old Fire Station, Oxford Town Centre, Oxford, England
November 1992 — The Epace Miro, UNESCO, Paris, France
January 8th-20th, 1993 — Rizal Memorial Library and Museum, Cebu City, Philippines
January 18th, 1993 — The University of Southern Philippines
April 13th-May 31st, 1993 — John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
June-July, 1993 — Palais des Rois de Majorque, Perpignan, France
June-July, 1993 — Shinjuku Citizens Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
June-July, 1993 — ‘La Favourite’, Tokyo, Japan
June-July, 1993 — Peace Osaka Hall, Osaka, Japan
August 1st-31st, 1993 — 66 Crosby St, Soho, New York
October 12th-15th, 1993 — Miyazaki, Japan
November 2nd-December 11th, 1993 —18 York St, Ottawa, Canada (Gallery dedicated to Raisa Maximovna Gorbacheva)
December 17th, 1993 — Outrigger East Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
December 31st, 1993 — Tokatoka Hotel, Nadi, Fiji
January 7th, 1994 — Travelodge, Suva, Fiji
|
1 – 7,000
|
|
Seven Thousand Blue-Gold Birds |
|
7,001 – 20,000
|
|
Thirteen Thousand God’s Dream-Souls |
|
20,001 – 30,000
|
|
Ten Thousand Flaming-Winging Song-Birds |
|
30,001 – 43,000
|
|
Eternity's Thirteen Thousand Aspiration-Cries |
|
43,001 – 55,000
|
|
Infinity’s Twelve Thousand Dedication-Smiles |
|
55,001 – 62,000
|
|
Immortality's Seven Thousand Sunrise-Birds |
|
62,001 – 70,000
|
|
Eight Thousand Dream-Boat-Birds |
|
70,001 – 80,000
|
|
Ten Thousand Freedom-Bird-Flights |
|
80,001 – 90,000
|
|
Ten Thousand Self-Giving Heart-Birds |
|
90,001 – 100,000
|
|
Ten Thousand World-Transformation-Dreams |
After the completion of 62,000 birds, Sri Chinmoy said that the name “Dream-Freedom Peace-Birds” would apply to all his birds from that time on.
8. Special Dates:
| Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| December 29th, 1991 | Sri Chinmoy begins drawing birds in Malta | |
| January 7th, 1992 | Completes 7,000 Blue-Gold Birds | |
| May 30th, 1992 | Completes 13,000 God's Dream-Souls (total of 20,000 birds) | |
| January 29th, 1993 | Completes 10,000 Flaming-Winging Song-Birds (total of 30,000 birds) | |
| April 23rd, 1993 | Sri Chinmoy opens exhibit at JFK Airport, New York | |
| April 25th, 1993 | Completes Eternity’s 13,000 Aspiration-Cries (total of 43,000 birds) | |
| June 23rd, 1993 | Completes Infinity’s 12,000 Dedication-Smiles (total of 55,000 birds) | |
| July 2nd, 1993 | Completes Immortality’s 7,000 Sunrise-Birds (total of 62,000 birds) | |
| July 18th, 1993 | Completes 8,000 Dream-Boat-Birds (total of 70,000 birds) | |
| August 2nd, 1993 | Sri Chinmoy opens exhibition in Soho, New York | |
| September 25th, 1993 | Completes 100,000 birds | |
| October 19th, 1993 | Declares his goal to be one million birds | |
| November 13th, 1993 | Completes 200,000 birds | |
| November 17th, 1993 | Attends exhibition of 100,000 birds in Ottawa | |
| November 26th, 1993 | Completes 300,000 birds | |
| December 3rd, 1993 | Completes 400,000 birds | |
| December 11th, 1993 | Completes drawing with 96,588 birds taking his total over 500,000 | |
| December 22nd, 1993 | Completes 700,000 birds | |
| December 23rd, 1993 | Drawing for his pet dog Kanu | |
| December 28th, 1993 | Completes 800,000 birds | |
| January 1st, 1994 | Drawings for his father, mother and brothers and sisters | |
| January 5th, 1994 | Completes one million birds |
10. Profile of a Half a Million Drawings in 25 Days
(December 12th, 1993 – January 5th, 1994):
| Date | Daily Count | Grand Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 12 | 4,971 | 582,722 | ||
| December 13 | 11,147 | 593,869 | ||
| December 14 | 11,949 | 605,818 | ||
| December 15 | 10,246 | 616,064 | ||
| December 16 | 8,995 | 625,059 | ||
| December 17 | 4,915 | 629,974 | ||
| December 18 | 11,381 | 641,355 | ||
| December 19 | 12,229 | 653,584 | ||
| December 20 | 21,220 | 674,804 | ||
| December 21 | 12,133 | 686,937 | ||
| December 22 | 15,245 | 702,182 | ||
| December 23 | 7,959 | 710,141 | ||
| December 24 | 17,896 | 728,037 | ||
| December 25 | 20,226 | 748,263 | ||
| December 26 | 21,466 | 769,729 | ||
| December 27 | 20,025 | 789,754 | ||
| December 28 | 10,938 | 800,692 | ||
| December 29/30 (dateline) | 10,205 | 810,897 | ||
| December 31 | 15,706 | 826,603 | ||
| January 1 | 18,001 | 856,314 | ||
| January 2 | 5,592 | 861,906 | ||
| January 3 | 16,410 | 878,316 | ||
| January 4 | 15,691 | 894,007 | ||
| January 5 | 107,912 | 1,001,919 |
Selected Messages
One million birds – how wonderful! How wonderful is Sri Chinmoy’s achievement! By God’s Blessing we can do everything, and Sri Chinmoy has achieved this by God’s Blessing. (Jan. 1994)
— Mother Teresa
Nobel Peace Laureate
Founder, Missionaries of Charity
I congratulate you on this wonderful achievement, which transports us men, who would be winged, to the birds, which we have tried to emulate. (Jan. 1994)
— Rt. Hon. Lord Yehudi Menuhin
Renowned violinist
Your million birds will be an inspiration to everyone to continue to work for our common goal of peace – peace in our lives and communities, and peace on earth.
— Dr. Linus Pauling
Nobel Laureate in Peace and in Chemistry
Founder, Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine
I am delighted to offer my warmest congratulations to Sri Chinmoy on the occasion of his completion of one million bird drawings. These soul-birds, symbols of freedom, joy and love, will undoubtedly inspire countless individuals and remain as a lasting tribute to peace and harmony.
— Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
Warmest congratulations on drawing one million Birds of Peace. May such a mammoth and magnificent achievement be an inspiration to all of us working for peace worldwide.
— Rt. Hon. Jim Bolger
Prime Minister of New Zealand
It strikes me as highly appropriate that Sri Chinmoy, who has done so much in the cause of peace, should have chosen to create these birds. Birds are expressive not only of freedom and grace but also of the harmony and beauty that accompany peace. If each of Sri Chinmoy’s creations inspires one – ten – a hundred – people to a greater commitment to peace, their impact will have been enormous! (Feb. 1994)
— H.E. Elliot L. Richardson
Co-Chairman, United Nations Association (USA), National Council
Former United States Ambassador-at-Large
Sri Chinmoy has drawn marvellous birds, thousands of birds, thousands of hope-messengers. Thank you. (Feb. 1994)
— Madame Catherine Lalumière<
Secretary-General of the European Council
As Governor of the State of Nebraska, a Sri Chinmoy Peace State, I am very pleased to offer you sincere congratulations upon drawing your millionth bird of peace. Your dedicated service to mankind as an ambassador of peace is deeply appreciated. Efforts like yours help call attention to the ‘oneness’ which we as a state, a nation and a world must strive to achieve.
— Hon. E. Benjamin Nelson
Governor of the State of Nebraska
Your uninhibited self-expression through art speaks louder than words in communicating your strong belief in the freedom found in international peace
I offer my warm congratulations to Sri Chinmoy on this august accomplishment. Sri Chinmoy’s soul-bird drawings are eloquent and inspiring. The symbolic birds remind us of mankind’s great potential to achieve both inner and outer peace, (Jan. 1994)
— H.E. Maurice Strong
CEO, Ontario Hydro
Former Secretary-General of the UN
Conference on Environment and Development
In the drawing of one million images by Sri Chinmoy, it is revealed to us the power of genius has burst its spiritual and cultural bounds to find further expression in the dream-freedom of these peace-birds. (Feb. 1994)
— H.E. Angier Biddle Duke
President, Council of American Ambassadors
Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Morocco and Denmark
Sri Chinmoy’s project is an eloquent testimony to the enlightened belief that visual art can powerfully affect our sympathies and understanding. I have nothing but respect for his endeavours. (Feb. 1994)
— Ivan Gaskell
Curator of Paintings,
Harvard University Art Museums
I vividly remember the beautiful exhibition titled ‘My 70,000 Soul-Bird-Flights’ which you displayed in Soho last summer. It released powerful and positive messages to all who viewed it. May your humanitarian deeds continue to inspire world peace and global harmony wherever you and your soul-birds travel. (Jan. 1994)
— Renee Phillips
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief,
Manhattan Arts International Magazine
The soul, like a dove of peace, longs for the divine. This flight of those who thirst for peace and for God is made tangible with all its high spiritual quality by these improvised and pure strokes, by these solar and beautiful images of Sri Chinmoy … Let us join with Sri Chinmoy for the great flight! (Jan. 1994)
—Professor Gabriel Mandel
Professor of Art History
Renowned Italian writer and painter
Congratulations on your 1,000,000 bird drawings. Their beauty inspires us all. To finish 1,000,000 birds in the outer world transmits a powerful message for all of us to keep our hearts open to the great and peaceful inner world.
— Sudhahota Carl Lewis
World’s Fastest Human Being
Nine-time Olympic gold medallist
The dove is a symbol of peace, and a bird signifies life and loving. Sri Chinmoy has taken a simple thing and turned it into a monumental achievement to inspire us, which no one else in the world could do.
— Mahasamrat Bill Pearl
Five-time Mr. Universe
Best Built Man of the Century