Curated by Li Yu and Shalu Yadav, this month-long exhibition features the works of Krishna Prakash Vasant, an artist who has been practicing the Surpur miniature painting tradition for decades. His intricate ink drawings breathe new life into a fading art form, blending cultural heritage with contemporary expression.

About Ananta Kathā

With the rapid development of modern technology, South Asia is facing severe cultural erosion. Many traditional art forms and oral traditions are gradually fading away, and the cultural and spiritual narratives once passed down through generations are at risk of being forgotten. At this critical moment, art becomes not only a visual language but also a guardian of memory and heritage.

Artist Krishna Prakash Vasant's work responds to this urgency. Using ink on paper as his medium, he merges the endangered tradition of Surpur miniature painting with contemporary visual sensibilities. His figures draw from the sacred narratives, keeping these stories alive in a new form. Just as Rāmlīlā (A theatrical performance of Rāmāyaṇa) preserves oral traditions through performance, Krishna's work presents epics, myths and rich culture through visual language, transforming them into narratives that resonate with modern audiences.

Ananta Kathā stands as a bridge between tradition and the present. It not only demonstrates the continuity of an artistic form but also reveals the profound spiritual depth within South Asian culture. Through Krishna's work, viewers can experience mythological figures and spiritual narratives that transcend time and space, discovering the enduring power and value of cultural memory in the present. The significance of this exhibition lies not merely in preserving an art form, but in ensuring the cultural heritage it carries endures and is passed on to future generations.

Date: 27 October, 2025

Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM (IST)

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