Valmiki's Ramayana has travelled across the globe over the past 2500 years in various artistic, theatrical, and musical forms. It is the quintessential tale of love and loss, loyalty and betrayal, and has inspired countless stories of romance and tragedy. In South and Southeast Asia, in particular, the tale of Rama and his consort Sita has shifted from being a Hindu legend to becoming a part of the larger cultures; the characters are intimately familiar to millions of people, their personal struggles emblematic of our own, the ultimate triumph of the good and righteous over the forces of darkness.
The Ramayana is filled with timeless lessons that can be applied to any period in history and to people all over the world. This groundbreaking exhibition presents the ancient epic through a modernized visual language, delving into aspects of the story and characters that have rarely been explored. While many believe they know the story well, there are deeper elements and shadows to the characters that present a far more complex, intriguing web of emotions and relationships than presented in the traditional Hindu legend.
Bringing together three modern Indian artists of various backgrounds, Tales of Love and Betrayal presents the Ramayana as a contemporary epic through the eyes of a Hindu, Christian, and Muslim artists. Anand Gadapa, a painter born in a Brahmin family in South India, introduces the viewer to the demonic character, Ravana, delving into his past and the forces that turned his heart to darkness. Nirmala Biluka, a Christian woman known for her commentaries on the role of women in Indian society, explores the character of Sita from a feminist perspective by revealing the divine power she embodies in the epic that is often suppressed by the powerful men around her. Finally, a rare and provocative series made in 1981 by the late great-grandfather of modern Indian art, M.F. Husain (1915-2011), presents the monkey-god, Hanuman, as a self-doubting but supremely powerful being who represents the modern-day superhero.
Tales of Love and Betrayal transforms the Ramayana into an expressive and highly contemporary story that speaks through an abstracted visual form. The language of modern art has the ability to transform ancient myth and communicate its essence in a challenging, even confrontational way. By viewing the pains and pleasures of these renowned characters, there is the possibility of seeing our own struggles reflected back to us. And in their triumphs and downfalls, we have the potential to view our own life experience and to be guided into the realm of the gods and goddesses.
Returning for yet another collaboration is American curator and lecturer, Siddhartha V. Shah, who brought to Serindia Gallery the groundbreaking exhibition, The Body Never Lies: Woodcut Prints by S.Chandramohan in May 2010. Shah specializes in the conflicts and intersections between religion and the modern art.
