The first lady of
Russia H.E. Mrs. Lyudmila a. Putina is inaugurated a special exhibition
of paintings entitled ‘Nicholas Roerich: A Himalayan Saga’ being
organised by National Museum here today. Minister of State for
tourism and Culture Shri Vinod Khanna graced the occasion.
A versatile genius
and philosopher, Nicholas Roerich was born on October 9, 1874
in St. Petersburg, Russia but spent his early childhood at the
country estate, Isvara, the environs of which instilled in young
Nicholas an enduring love for nature. His university years at
the Imperial Academy of Arts molded him into Nicholas – the Artist.
He married Helena in 1901 and they travelled extensively in Russia
and Europe. He was commissioned to prepare murals and mosaics
for several churches between 1904 and World War I. Consequent
upon the exhibition he mounted in New York, he was invited to
give lectures in various museums, and universities. While in New
York in November 1921, he founded the Master Institute of United
Arts, an institute of all arts under one roof. He then founded
the International Art Centre, Corona Mundi (Crown of the World)
in New York on July 11, 1922. In May, 1923 he began the five-year
long expedition resulted in over 500 works. Roerich then, established
the Himalayan Research Institute-Urusvati in Darjeeling and settled
in the Kullu Valley discovering it as a place that suited him
in all respects and that became a home for the rest of his life.
He continued to paint the holy places he had visited on his travels
through the majestic Himalayas. His landscape paintings reveal
the tranquility of the Himalayas. Nocholas Roerich died on December
13, 1947 leaving behind a rich and impressive legacy which extends
to four continents, comprising some 7000 paintings drawings, sets
and costume designs.
This exhibition comprises
76 paintings, temporarily loaned from various institutions. The
numbers of exhibits loaned are shown against each organisation.
The paintings on the Himalayas in this exhibition should be viewed
in a sequence of (a) Interface of Man and Mountain (b) Reaching
the Inner space and (c) tranquility: Above and Beyond. Some of
the most outstanding exhibits included Sharugen Monastery, Himalayan
Landscape, Studies of Himalayas, Nar Singh and Guga Chouhan, She
Who Leads and On the shore of Pongola Lake.
These works of art
in India dated back to their beginning of the 20th
century, i.e. 1923 to 1947. The Himalayas are the focal theme
of this artist. His art works in India, were given the status
of national treasures and he was also considered as one of the
national artists.
The exhibition will
remain open to the public at National Museum, New Delhi till December
20, 2002 from 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM except Mondays. This exhibition
will facilitate the viewers to see and appreciate the artistic
creations in Oriental style of art, displayed sequentially: The
Interface, The Inner Space and Tranquility: above and Beyond.
