World Culture Galleries
Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery
Level 3, Michael Lee-Chin Crystal
This gallery’s approximate 350 objects reflects the ROM’s vast and diverse collections representing the artistic and cultural traditions of South Asia. Nine thematically organized areas present religious objects and sculpture, decorative arts, arms and armour, miniature paintings and textiles spanning over 5,000 years and originating from countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
The section of the gallery titled Material Remains highlights the material culture of ancient South Asia from the Indus Valley Civilization (3500 - 1900 BC) in present-day Pakistan to the Sunga Period (3rd - 2nd century BC) in northern India. Other sections include Imagining the Buddha, tracing the birth and development of Buddhist art from the 3rd to 5th centuries, especially focusing on the region of Gandhara; The Goddess, exploring icons of the feminine divine represented in both benevolent and wrathful forms; and Visualizing Divinity, showcasing representations of gods across several religions and their various manifestations over time. Passage to Enlightenment presents the colourful arts of the Himalayan region, which gave concrete form to concepts of esoteric Buddhism, dating from the 15th century to the present day, while Courtly Culture describes lavish luxury items and displays of grandeur predominantly from the Mughal and Rajput courts.
For the modern period, Cultural Exchange focuses on Dutch, Portuguese,and British commercial interaction with South Asia from the 16th-19th centuries and the new social, political, and cultural relationships that were established and, finally, Home and the World presents modern and contemporary art of South Asia and of the South Asian Diaspora as it absorbs and reflects current issues in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The gallery also shares a rotating exhibition space with the Wirth Gallery of the Middle East to showcase objects from the ROM's Middle Eastern and South Asian collections.
First opened in 2000, much work has gone into redeveloping the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery for its new location in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. The gallery is named in honour of Sir Christopher Ondaatje, C.B.E., O.C. in appreciation of his generous support of Renaissance ROM and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Podcast:
The Palampore
September 07, 2010
The Palampore hangs in the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum. Before installation in the gallery, this artifact was the focus of a conservation project lead by Shirley Ellis, Senior Textile Conservator at the ROM.
Video Podcast (31MB, 5min 29sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Iconic - "Kunti" (Blue Lady)
January 14, 2010
Listen as artist, Navjot Altaf, speaks about the sculpture "Kunti" (blue lady) from the series "In Response to," one of the ROM's iconic treasures. A modern twist on conventional South Asian art, the larger than life sculpture is inspired by village witch-trials and fertility goddesses. Its brilliant blue references the indigo trade and the traditional Hindu colour of divinity.
Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)
