A visual odyssey of an epic story

Statue of Divine Victory by Neeraj Gupta Photo credit: Special Arrangements

Earlier this year, while the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was underway, Sanjeev Kishore Gautam, director general of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi, came up with the idea of organizing an exhibition that would be a Will present a healthy and wholesome appearance. The moving visual narrative of the epic, the Ramayana.

His team sourced masterpieces from the gallery’s rich collection and also collaborated with a number of organizations and private collectors. Result? From some of the finest paintings, prints and textiles to shadow puppets, sculptures and a vast collection of immersive art installations from across the country are now on display at the Ramayanam Chitra Kavyam exhibition.

Over 100 exhibits spread over 4,000 square feet include a statue from Nepal and a magnificent bronze statue of Lord Rama from Cambodia, says curator Jyoti Tokas, besides the Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts, DAG and Me. Includes selected artworks produced by the Meraki Foundation. and the Crafts Museum.

The Ramayana is a timeless text, says NGMA Director General Sanjiv Kumar Gautam, adding, the exhibition aims to promote India’s cultural heritage through storytelling.

Ramayanam Chitra Kavyam | Photo credit: Special Arrangements

The range of artworks is diverse: it includes outdoor and indoor sculptures, traditional miniature art from the 1850s to hologram art based on modern digital technology. Phad, Gond, Madhubani and Pattachitra paintings, kalamkari art, textiles, shadow and wooden puppets, theatrical chao masks, prints of Raja Ravi Varma’s magnificent paintings – all collectively present a strong visual depiction of the epic.

Sanjeev says the collection aims to inspire dialogue, appreciation and reflection on the timeless theme of the Ramayana and Indian storytelling through art. Jyoti added that the creativity and talent of artists ranging from nationalist and traditional to modern and contemporary are displayed to educate, inform and entertain visitors of all age groups.

Sculptor Neeraj Gupta Photo credit: Special Arrangements

Neeraj Gupta’s six-foot-by-five-foot sculpture, titled Divine Victory, is made from a large trunk of old rosewood and depicts the homecoming of Rama and Sita. What stands out in his art is the absence of facial features. The blurred lines between abstraction and figuration add a unique contemporary touch. Neeraj says he kept the sculptures faceless so that viewers could interpret them in different ways.

Another mirror artwork in stainless steel by Vibhor Sogani, called Divine Walk, creates the illusion of shimmering water with treads made in brass in the form of slippers. It is an abstract interpretation of Rama’s mystical walk over the ocean towards Lanka.

An exposition in Ramayanam Chitra Kavyam Photo credit: Special Arrangements

A painting by Upendra Maharathi depicting Rama and Lakshmana standing by the sea is as captivating as the works of Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, K Venkatappa who offer their own interpretations of the epic story. Chittoprasad’s fascinating Ramayana series and Kalighat pits reveal the complete story.

National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaipur House, India Gate at Hexagon; By April 30; 10 AM to 6 PM (Closed on Mondays)