Avatar: Forms of Vishnu : Art Gallery of New South Wales
‘In an exhibition tracing 1,500 years of art, Vishnu’s avatars offer tonic for our times.’
Exclusive to Sydney, this captivating exhibition celebrates Vishnu, the Hindu deity who preserves order in the universe, through nearly 200 exceptional works spanning fifteen centuries of South and Southeast Asian art and storytelling. It is the first major exhibition in Australia dedicated to Vishnu.
Avatar, meaning ‘descent’ in Sanskrit, describes the many forms Vishnu takes to descend from the heavens to restore balance on earth. In sculpture, painting, textiles and photographs, the exhibition traces the ways artists have envisioned Vishnu’s various avatars, including Matsya the fish, Kurma the tortoise, the beloved Krishna, the noble prince Rāma, and Kalki, the future avatar who will bring renewal.
Brimming with tales of heroism, love and devotion, the exhibition presents exceptional historical and contemporary art from renowned collections in Australia, India, Cambodia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It also includes work by contemporary artists Gitanjali Das, Kalyan Joshi, Jumaadi, Desmond Lazaro, Kalam Patua, Nalini Malani, Pushpamala N, Sumakshi Singh and Satyanarayan Suthar.
A unique opportunity to experience the artistic, cultural and spiritual legacy of one of the world’s most enduring traditions. With thanks to co-curator Dr Chaitanya Sambrani, and the School of Art and Design, Australian National University.
