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exhibition Details
In bestowing the ‘eye divine’, Krishna, the Hindu god of compassion and love, empowered Arjuna with the ability to see his Universal Form (Vishvarupa): the unlimited expansion of the universe. Likewise, Indian painting invites viewers into a world of innumerable, magical encounters. This is achieved through rasa, the theoretical basis for all arts in India. Rasa (mood or inner significance) is achieved through six chitra (limbs), including line, size, colour, beauty and resemblance to reality. These evoke different ‘emotional flavours’ for a viewer who is sahridaya (of the same heart). Featuring portraits, architectural studies, and painted stories of divine and sensual love, The Eye Divine explores how the visual qualities of Indian miniature painting create rasa and to what effect. With their jewel-like colours and rich, intricate patterns, the artworks in The Eye Divine weave a kaleidoscopic tapestry of aesthetic delight, enlivening the soul and delighting the eye divine.
View and download the full events programme for The Eye Divine.
- Date
- —
- Curated by
- Emma Jameson
- Location
- Mezzanine level
Artworks on display
Couple embracing
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland
Folio from the Mahabharata
tempera
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Paul R C Potter, 1970
Krishna with the five Pandavas
tempera
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr Paul R C Potter, 1970
Man with fly whisk on black background
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland
Man with fly whisk over his shoulder, with blue border
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland
Man with sword on green background
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland
Marriage of Krishna and Rukmini
tempera
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr Paul R C Potter, 1970
Marriage of Krishna and Rukmini
tempera
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr Paul R C Potter, 1970
Philosophers in discussion
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland
Dancing woman
tempera on paper
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, on loan from Gretchen Albrecht and James Ross, Auckland