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| Saturday, 11 October 2003 |
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Photographic exhibition on Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage A photographic exhibition on Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage entitled "The Path of Compassion" will be held on October 15-16, 2003 at the National Art Gallery, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7 states a press release by the Information Service of India. The exhibition will be jointly inaugurated by the Minister of External Affairs of India, Yashwant Sinha and the Minister of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka, Dr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku on October 15, 2003 at 3 pm. Comprising over 80 photographs by renowned Indian photographer and art historian, Benoy K. Behl, the exhibition provides a comprehensive perspective of the monuments and art heritage of Buddhism from the earliest times. It takes us on a visual pilgrimage through the life of the Buddha: to the places of his birth, enlightenment, first sermon and final renunciation. The exhibition covers a wide range of the heritage of both Theravada and Mahayana Vajrayana orders, providing a view of the richness of the whole Buddhist tradition. Buddhist sculpture and paintings are some of the gentles and most sublime art of mankind. These are also the oldest surviving art of the historic period in the Indian subcontinent. Emperor Ashok in the 3rd century BC was the first great royal patron of Buddhism. The great stupas which he made, his commemorative pillars and sculptural railings are some of the most beautiful and oldest surviving architecture and art of the subcontinent. From the time of Ashok onwards, Buddhism spread not only to all corners of India but also all over Asia. Sri Lanka became the centre of the earlier Theravada Order of Buddhism from where the Buddhist tradition travelled to the countries of South-East Asia. The religion and the art associated with it had a transforming effect on the countries which it reached and, till today, the art heritage of Buddhism flourishes in the whole continent. The photographer, Binoy Behl is known for his pioneering low-light photography of ancient paintings, capturing their true and luminous colours more clearly than ever done before. He is also known for his extremely sensitive photography of Buddhist art which provides a deep insight into the gentle and compassionate message of the art. The exhibition has been sent to Sri Lanka by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It is being organized in Colombo by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka, and the High Commission of India under the bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme. The exhibition will remain open to the public on October 15 from 3 pm to 5.30 pm and October 16 from 9 am to 5.30 pm. |
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