From the cosmographical mappings of the mythical and esoteric depictions of unmanifest and transcendental realities to the illustrations of deities and sages in Jain and Rajput miniatures, ‘His Glory and His Monuments’ offers a brief albeit intense visual journey into the occult nature of reality and history. Selected primarily from Rajasthan and consisting mostly of Jain illustrated manuscripts, rare esoteric maps about numinous realities from both Jain and Hindu cosmological traditions, and a variety of miniatures that represent sublime themes about deities inhumanly domesticated settings, the exhibition is curated and also explicated through a book-length essay by Dr. Kallol Roy. From Jain Tirthankaras to the Sirohi Mandala, ‘His Glory and His Monuments’ is here to both enchant and provide insights into the aesthetic, cosmological, and esoteric traditions of both Ancient and Mediaeval India.
Brief on Paintings
• Painting 1: Krishna holding Kamsa by the tuft of his hair with Balarama and wrestlers watching Origin Kota Period 1870s Medium Gouache and gold on paper Dimensions 27×18 cm
• Painting 2: Krishna and Radha Moon-Watching with a Gopi. Origin: Boondi; Period: Early 19th century; Medium: Gouache and gold on paper; Dimensions: 25×18 cm
• Painting 3: A map of the ‘two and a half continents’ showing the various continents of the middle world. Origin: Rajasthan; Period: Late 19th century; Medium: Watercolor on paper
• Painting 4: Lokpurusha map Origin: Rajasthan; Period: Early 20th century; Medium: Opaque Watercolor on paper
About the Curator – Dr Kallol Roy
Kallol Roy holds a PhD in Social Sciences and Art History from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta and Jadavpur University. He also has a background in Literary and Culture Studies and is interested in visual arts, critical theories and interrelationship between the discourses on art and institutional histories. Besides curating he is presently working as Assistant Professor of English Literature in a college under Burdwan University as part of the West Bengal Education Services.
About Mamta Nath (Founder & Director Lexicon Art Gallery)
For almost a decade, The Lexicon Art has been organizing carefully curated shows of contemporary Indian art. With the opening of an additional new space in Connaught Place, we are embarking on a new phase of our journey that will not only explore the various forms of Indian but also international art across a wider range of genres and media. Being styled as an international gallery, Lexicon hopes to bring a novel opportunity for artists and art connoisseurs alike.
The Inaugural show on Indian miniature paintings, opening in March 2022, is a reflection of our aim. This exhibition, titled” His Glory and His Monuments” is a collaborative effort of various learned minds in the field of art. We hope to not only exhibit these treasures to all but to also make them accessible.
Hopefully, for the discerning art lovers, this show shall bring joy and dispense the much-hidden knowledge about an art form which remains enshrined in the scriptures and miniatures.
The Lexicon Art Work pictures with brief: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hsMt-r1QgCU5uh2cGxNo_dgVR8qBpPdl?usp=sharing
Exhibition Date: 13th March to 12 April, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m to 7 p.m
Venue: The Lexicon Art, M 12, Outer Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Website: www.thelexiconart.com
