Devi – women as depicted in folk & tribal art, lobby cards & posters

Team L&M

The Kamladevi Complex at India International Centre in New Delhi is holding an interesting exhibition of goddesses revered in various states of India. Titled Devi, it is an ode to women, and depicts various manifestations of the goddess, represented in art from different periods, regions and mediums. The works showcased are not just paintings, but folk and tribal art, calendar art, sculptures, scrolls, lobby cards as well as posters collected from the length and breadth of India by noted art collector Siddharth Tagore. The exhibition comprising 50 paintings and 40 wooden sculptures, is curated by Seema Bhalla.

Water colour on paper by artist Shanwar chitrakar

The Devi coming from Kalighat, Madhubani, Assam, Bengal, Odisha, Mata ni Pachedi (Gujarat), Pichwai and shadow puppet, and a striking wooden sculpture, representing the ‘Village Devi’, a wooden bust of the ‘Devi’ as the protector from snakes, both from Karnataka, and an early Bengal school oil on canvas, depicting Mahishasur Mardini, are just a few among many other exhibits representing the goddess, each exquisite in its own way.

Kalamkari artist N Harinath  (natural dye on cloth) 

Interestingly, there are many depictions of Mahishasur Mardini, a ferocious form the Devi acquires to confront evil, meaning thereby that this is most loved and worshipped form of Goddess. There is even one in Kalamkari on cloth by Kerala artist N Harinath.

Some of the interesting pieces include the Bengal Pattachitra that shows the full story of Mansa Mangal and Chandi Mangal, Ganga Avataran by Ajit Jha in Madhubani, Saraswati by Raja Ravi Verma and Kali & Ramkrishna Paramhansa by Sudarshan Samal. A wooden sculpture of Shiva-Parvati mounted on Nandi bull is one of its kind piece.

Lord Shiva & Parvati on Bull – wood sculpture

“Devi is worshipped across India. Though different regions have their own devi, each one equally powerful and beautiful. This is what we wanted to bring to fore,” says Tagore, who started collecting these pieces over three decades back in 1987.

“We also have some ‘lobby cards’ of the movies based on goddesses. Devi, being a very popular theme in Indian cinema, scores of films have been made the theme, in Hindi and other vernacular languages,” adds Tagore, informing that at many places Tantric Devis were/ are worshipped and that’s the reason why he has put up Coco De Mer, coconut shell  used in for Tantrik worship procured from Seychelles Island.

The exhibition is on view till December 29, 11:00 am to 19:00 pm