Abstract:
India has one of the finest traditions of painting of the world. Ancient and exquisite Indian murals are the foundations of the tradition of later manuscript paintings and miniatures. This early tradition is not generally known, as many of the ancient paintings are hidden in dark recesses in temples and caves. These had not been clearly photographed or sufficiently represented to the world before. It was generally believed that India did not have a continuous tradition of painting, which came from ancient times. Even the Ajanta murals, which were known, were considered as a flash in the pan, as most were not aware of other paintings of many centuries after Ajanta. Behl’s photography of the early Indian murals has placed the Indian tradition of paintings in a new and important light.
About the Speaker:
Benoy K Behl is a filmmaker, art historian, and photographer who is known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past 46 years. He has taken over 53,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage and made 145 documentaries which are regularly screened at major cultural institutions worldwide. His photographic exhibitions have been warmly received in 74 countries. He holds the Limca Book Record for being the most traveled photographer and art historian. Among his books, ‘The Ajanta Caves’ and ‘The Art of India’ (in 2 volumes) are among the best-selling books on Indian art history worldwide. Behl is an Adjunct Professor National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc Campus, Bengaluru, and has been invited by scores of the most prestigious universities and museums in the world to lecture.
