In memoriam - Dominique Darr

Dominique Darr left her body on December 25th in her apartment in Citadine at the age of 84. The cause of death, most probably, was diabetic coma. Dominique, who was an accomplished photographer and a close friend of Roger Anger, first came to Pondicherry and Auroville in December 1970. She was introduced to The Mother during the Ashram’s Christmas celebrations, and then came back to Pondicherry and Auroville almost every year. Exceptionally, in 1971 she was given access to a terrace opposite The Mother’s balcony to take a photo of The Mother giving balcony darshan.

Some of her photos, like that of the lone granite stone with the letters AV painted on it marking Auroville land or that of men, goats and cows ambling through a dry, eroded landscape, have become iconic. These are amongst her earliest photos of Auroville. But over the years, Matrimandir became her main interest and she shot more than a thousand photos of its construction. These represent a unique document of the stages of Matrimandir’s construction and the people who worked on it. The book Matrimandir – a hymn to the builders of the future, published in 2014 by the Centre d’Art d’Auroville, is a selection of these photos, taken between 1972 and 2008.

Dominique was known as a strong-willed, independent person with a big warm heart, fully dedicated to Auroville and closely connected with many residents. In the Auroville International world she was active as well. During her last years, Dominique established the elegant Centre d’Art at Citadines. Her photo exhibition on Auroville’s first years, which she was busy organising, will take place there in February.

Dominique’s body was taken to the Farewell Centre before being interred at the Adventure burial grounds on December 27th.