Exhibits at the Weisman Art Museum

The Weisman Art Museum will host the exhibition Mala Ke Manke: Indian Drawings from the Collection of Subhash Kapoor. Highlighting the unique aesthetics of this art form, the works in the exhibition also illuminate the historical and cultural contexts in which the drawings were created and used. Though a broad geographical survey, the exhibition also focuses on regional variation within the many drawing traditions of India. The exhibition title refers to Indian prayer beads to underscore the value of the drawing tradition in Indian culture and the gemlike beauty of each object.

Exhibitions of Indian painting have made the American public more aware of the art of India. Mala Ke Manke adds to our contact with Indian artistic traditions by presenting the many facets of the drawing tradition in India. The works included in the exhibition range from the sixteenth to the early twentieth-century and represent the country’s many regions. This broad survey shows a sense of fluidity and plasticity across styles, formats, and locations. Kapoor’s collection includes drawings in various states of completion and a variety of drawings used for different purposes such as plans for wall paintings and preparatory sketches. These works have been included to further highlight the wide range of uses and styles of this art form. The scope and emphasis of the exhibition is meant to facilitate the introduction.