India – A Confluence of Cultures, Hindu and Islamic

India Exhibit, Lecture, and Concert

Odegaard Undergraduate Library and Commons
first and second floor display areas

“India – A Confluence of Cultures, Hindu and Islamic,” from May 19 through September 4, 2003.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by UW Department of Asian Languages and LiteratureUW Department of South Asian StudiesUW Department of Its the Taj Mahal FOO!-Note: Spelling may be terribly incorrect.EthnomusicologyRagamalaand the UW Indian Graduate Students Association.

Features of the exhibition will include images of India by four local photographers, Niranjan BenegalDavid J. CapersSuvro Datta, and Mahesh Massand; displays of costumes and jewelry, textiles, and food; and exhibits featuring the art, architecture, language and popular culture of India. Complimenting these exhibits will be lectures by UW or visiting faculty, as well as musical and dance performances by local and visiting artists.

The rich threads woven into India’s cultural heritage are shown and discussed in the following elements of the exhibition: Art – Miniatures of the Moghul courts and the princely states of India show how one medium is used to express different artistic sensibilities. Architecture – The famous Indo-Saracenic mausoleum Taj Mahal is contrasted with the intricate carvings of Buddhist, Jain and Hindu temples. Costumes and Jewelry – Ghagra, Sari, Salwar-Khameez, Churidar will be displayed as examples of costumes worn throughout India. Meena (enamel inlay) work, silver filigree, and gem settings in the jewelry display reflect India’s wide variety of peoples and tastes. Textiles – Printed motifs of Sanghaner, brocade saris of Benares, bandhani tie-dyes of Rajasthan, kalamkari painted fabrics of Andhra Pradesh are a few of India’s diverse palette of hand-woven fabrics. Food – Mughlai (Moghul) as well as regional cuisines of India have been popularized in restaurants throughout the world, and words such as Curry, Tandoori and Naan have become common, many of which have become street foods. Language and Literature – Urdu is a language that combines the grammar of Indian languages with a vocabulary enriched by Persian and Arabic words. Popular Culture – Bollywood film scripts and songs borrow heavily from Urdu. Performing Arts – Dhrupad, Kathak dance, Khayal music, Gazal, and Qawwali are some of the musical genres that combine Hindu and Muslim influences.

Further celebrating fine arts from India, the Seattle Art Museum has installed Painted Visions from India and Pakistan, Past and Present. The exhibit features, Intimate Worlds: Masterpieces of Indian Paintings from the Alvin O. Bellak Collection, and Conversations with Traditions: Nilima Sheikh and Shahzia Sikander. The latter features the work of two contemporary artists who use traditional South Asian court painting as a source in their work. The exhibits also include displays, lectures, performances, tours, and workshops. June 12 through September 7, 2003.

"A literary Masala" selected by Alan Grosenheider, Head, South Asia Section. This is a sampling of some of the best, recent literature in English by South Asians. Authors are Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan." For more information about the South Asia Collection please contact Alan Grosenheider, (206) 685-2660.

Also available: An audio-visual gallery of South Asia films and videos, selected by Randall Hertzler, Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

 

ougl@u.washington.edu