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

The exhibition is a part of events organized during India Culture Week at the China Shanghai International Arts Festival 2015. The exhibits have been brought together courtesy Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA), Belgium & Teamwork Arts India Ltd in partnership with Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The present exhibition,containing a holistic exposition of over 400 works, curated by Sushma K. Bahl, Archana B Sapra and Museum of Sacred Arts, is thelargest ever exhibitioncoming from India to China and covers an area of more than 1500 sq metres.

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

1) Imaging the Divine

2) Cosmic Constellation

3) Elemental Ecstasy

4) Absence Presence

5) Lila

6) Telling Tales

7) Pilgrim’s Progress

8) Sacred &Secular

9) Worlds Within

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

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

Shanghai

November 6, 2015

Enclosures:

Pictures of opening of Exhibition `Forms of Devotion