The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) in Canberra is showcasing “The story of Rama” through 101 Pahari miniature paintings completed between 17th-19th centuries.
Beginning with a 19th century Kangra style painting of Narada requesting Valmiki to write the Ramayana story, this exhibition includes an 18thcentury Chamba style painting of Sita’s abduction by Ravana, a 19th century Kangra style painting of Ravana proposing to Sita in the Ashok vatika, a 1780 Guler style painting of the Rama-Ravana battle, a 1730 Basholi style portrait of Rama, and a 1800 Mandi style painting of the coronation procession with King Janaka carrying the infant Sita.
Applauding NGA for hosting the exhibition, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), said that art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth.
Zed, who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, urged major art museums of the world, including Musee du Louvre and Musee d’Orsay of Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles Getty Center, Uffizi Gallery of Florence (Italy), Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern of London, Prado Museum of Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, etc., to frequently organize Hindu art focused exhibitions, thus sharing the rich Hindu art heritage with the rest of the world.
NGA possesses over 160,000 works of art in its permanent collection, including Hindu art.
The exhibition is on till 23 August. Entry is free.
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