PRESS RELEASE : Opening of Exhibition `Forms of Devotion: The Spiritual in Indian Art’ at China Art Museum 11/06/2015

Theexhibition `Forms of Devotion: The Spiritual in Indian Art’ was jointlyinaugurated today morning at the China Art Museum by Ambassador ChinthapallyRajasekhar Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations; Ms.Catherine Wang Jun, President, Center for China Shanghai International ArtsFestival; Mr Liu Wenguo Artistic Director, China Shanghai International ArtsFestival; Mr Li Lei Deputy Director, China Art Museum Shanghai; and ConsulGeneral Mr. Prakash Gupta. The inauguration took place among chanting ofmantras and blowing of Shankh (conch) by the visiting artists from India.

Theexhibition is a part of events organized during India Culture Week at the ChinaShanghai International Arts Festival 2015. The exhibits have been broughttogether courtesy Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA), Belgium & Teamwork ArtsIndia Ltd in partnership with Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Thepresent exhibition, containing a holistic exposition of over 400 works, curatedby Sushma K. Bahl, Archana B Sapra and Museum of Sacred Arts, is the largest ever exhibition comingfrom India to China and covers an area of more than 1500 sq metres.

Revolvingaround the theme of spirituality in the visual arts “Forms of Devotion: TheSpiritual in Indian Art” embraces India’s unique spiritual and artisticdiversity of India’s plural culture taking in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam,Christianity, Sikhism and Jainism besides others. The exhibition represents abroad spectrum of contemporary art from different parts of the Indiansubcontinent and a few international ones. It explores ideas in myth, folklore,popular culture and sufi spirit across philosophies. The artworks, which celebratecreativity and vibrancy of devotional and spiritual art of India, have been displayedin following nine thematically designed inter-disciplinary sections:

1) Imagingthe Divine
2) CosmicConstellation
3) ElementalEcstasy
4) AbsencePresence
5) Lila
6) TellingTales
7) Pilgrim’sProgress
8) Sacred & Secular
9) WorldsWithin

Thecollection engages with continuity and change and features classical inspired,tribal, folk, popular, new media and contemporary art. It depicts the indelibleconnect between art, faith, and life transcends stylistic, geographical,chronological, and ideological boundaries.

The Exhibition will remain open for public viewingfrom November 6, 2015 to February 21,2016.

Shanghai
November 6, 2015