University of Missouri showcasing Hindu Gods

15 September, 2012

The University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archaeology (UMMAA) is exhibiting Hindu gods and goddesses in its 'Seeing the Divine in Hindu Art' exhibition from September 22 to December 16.

THIS MUSEUM in Columbia (Missouri, US), launched in 1957, claims to have over 14,000 pieces of art and artifacts in its holdings spanning seven millennia and six continents. Its permanent collections include various stone and bronze statues of Hindu deities Vishnu, Shiva, Parvati, Durga, Ganesha, Lakshmi and Rama. Alex Barker is the Director and Jeffrey Wilcox is Registrar.

This exhibition reportedly examines many Hindu deities with artifacts as old as from eighth century in a variety of media, including Vishnu and his ten avatars, Shiva, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Enthroned Vishnu, Parvati, Durga astride a lion, Kali, Sarasvati, Surya, Dharmaraj, snake goddess Manasha, Shitala, Krishna playing a flute, Shiva Bhairava, etc. Works include metal, wood, stone, ceramic, leather, paper mache and ivory; as well as paintings on paper, cloth, and glass. Most of the exhibits originated in India but some are from other countries of South or Southeast Asia.

Four tie-in films, a program on yoga, and a lecture on “Darshan: Hindu Art and the Religious Gaze” will also be presented as an orientation to the exhibition. Exhibition offers “varied visual landscape of Hindu divinity”, a Museum announcement adds.

Applauding UMMAA for organizing Hinduism focused exhibition, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, said that art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth.