Living Traditions in Indian Art

Devotional art has permeated the everyday life in India for centuries. A variety of divine forms and expressions by contemporary artists continue the tradition of depicting the rich mythology of Hinduism and the traditions that it has inspired. This color-rich volume catalogues the collection of devotional art held in the Museum of Sacred Art located in the Belgian Ardennes. The collection represents well-known traditional painting styles of India like Nathadwara, Mithila, Patachitra, Mysore, Tanjore and Kerala, executed by renowned artists such as B.G. Sharma and Indra Sharma, Bharti Dayal, G.L.N Simha, K.S. Shreehari. Many emerging talented artists like Brindaban Das and Tilkesh Sharma are also exhibited. The museum also holds excellent examples of Mysore inlay work, metal icons and stone sculptures, Newari art from Nepal/Tibet, Ramkien-inspired leather cut-outs from Thailand and masks and puppets from Indonesia – a valuable addition to the collection, displaying the spiritual and cultural connection shared by these places with India. Of particular interest is the section on art of the Hare Krishna Movement, which blends Indian and Western styles in creating a new vocabulary for devotional Indian art.