In our ongoing exploration of the Spirit and Forms of Indian Art, BhāratShakti team is organizing a photography exhibition titled ‘HAMPI: A Photographic Journey Tracing the Aesthetics of Perseverance and Valour’ at Ashram Exhibition House, Pondicherry.
The opening meditation will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM. All are welcome to join.
The exhibition will remain open from March 7 till March 25, 2025 (except Mondays and Sundays). The exhibition
House timings are:
Morning: 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Evenings: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Click here for more details.
On 4 September, 1969, a disciple asked the Mother of her opinion on photography as a medium of modern art. The Mother’s reply inspires deep reflection and serves as an inspiration for this upcoming exhibition. She said,
“It all depends on the way in which photography is used. Its natural purpose and common use is documentary; the more exact and precise it is, the more useful it is.
“But undeniably, there are artists who use photography as a medium of expression. But then what they do is no longer an exact copy of Nature, it is an arrangement of forms and colours intended to express something else which is usually hidden by physical appearances.”
~ The Mother, CWM, 10: 248
Through a careful selection of photographs taken at various locations in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the exhibition seeks to tell the story of magnificence of Hampi as a highly prosperous city during the peak of Vijayanagara empire, its architectural and sculptural riches, its connection with stories from the Ramayana and much more. A few relevant facts about the history of Vijayanagara empire and some the legends associated with Hampi will also be part of the exhibition display, to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
The focus on Hampi as the subject of exhibition helps us pay homage to a comment of Sri Aurobindo “…glories of the last Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar” which he included in his message to the Andhra University in December 1948. At the same time, the themes of Perseverance and Valour which we aim to highlight through the selected photographs are inspired by his words:
“[India’s] political genius….was strong to survive and await every opportunity of revival, made a bid for empire under Rana Sanga, created the great kingdom of Vijayanagara, held its own for centuries against Islam in the hills of Rajputana, and in its worst days still built and maintained against the whole power of the ablest of the Moguls the kingdom of Shivaji, formed the Mahratta confederacy and the Sikh Khalsa, undermined the great Mogul structure and again made a last attempt at empire.”
~ Sri Aurobindo, CWSA 20: 442
As part of the exhibition, we are also organizing a special lecture-discussion on March 13 at Ashram Exhibition House at 3:30 PM. This session will explore the theme – ‘The ‘Cultural and Political Legacy of Vijayanagara Empire’. All are welcome to attend.
All are invited to browse through the exhibition and learn about the glories of the last Hindu Empire of Vijayanagara as expressed through our collection of photographs. If you are interested in volunteering for the exhibition, kindly contact us via email by writing to ([email protected])
For more information, write to Dr. Beloo Mehra ([email protected])
