Russian painter, writer, archaeologist and theosophist Nicholas Roerich played a pivotal role in strengthening cultural relations between India and Russia. Born in Saint Petersburg, Roerich lived in various places around the world and was finally drawn to the subcontinent in 1923 owing to his deep interest in spirituality, Buddhism and art. Keen to study the religion, language, customs and culture, he went onto explore India, Turkestan, Altai, Mongolia and Tibet later writing about it in his book Heart of Asia. During his Indian sojourn, he painted almost 7,000 works, all of which captured the ethereal beauty of the Himalayas. Some of these works apart from his letters to various dignitaries of India and his son Svetoslav’s paintings are on display as part of In Search of the Mystic World, an ongoingart exhibition at the city’s National Gallery of Modern Art. The show commemorates India and Russia celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations and features works primarily sourced from the collections of Allahabad Museum, NGMA, New Delhi, and Bengaluru.
The paintings on display portray Roerich’s everlasting fascination for the Himalayas. Using the tempera method of painting (where pigments are dispersed in an emulsion made with egg yolk and water), the Master of the Mountains, as he was popularly known as, paid tribute to the spirit of the mountains. His works depict the changing textures of colour on the snow clad peaks — going from a bright blue to a pale pink and a dark purple — as the sun’s rays bathe them. For instance, one of the works on display titled ‘Beauty of Mountains’ depicts the Himalayas in hues of blue and white in the background while depicting the dark shadows falling on the mountain crags in the foreground. Another work titled ‘Guga Chauhan and Narsingh’depicts a large trunk of tree rising up in the foreground with Himalayan peaks in the background. The painting includes the local deity of the Kulu Valley where Roerich had made his home.
Rajesh Purohit, Director of Allahabad Museum, who has curated the exhibition says, “In Search of the Mystic World signifies the quest for the inner and the outer world as well as the mysticism that is entwined in the tangible and intangible world. Roerich had painted more than 7,000 canvases out of which 19 are in the Allahabad Museum and are varied in nature and compositions. Through his works on the Himalayas, he was perhaps trying to unravel the mysticism of the changing shades of mountain peaks with the sun light falling on them.”
Roerich’s use of visual metaphors and vivid symbolisms suggest his preoccupation with mystical or spiritual experiences. His belief in the universality of religions can be seen in his work, ‘The Holy Shepherd’ where he depicted the figure of Krishna in the persona of the Slavic folk hero Lel, which can also be interpreted as Jesus Christ as the flute player. Roerich’s message is clear: the mysticism of life can be experienced through nature, and whether it’s through Jesus or Krishna, the spiritual experience remains the same.
The ongoing, In Search of the Mystic World at theNational Gallery of Modern Art, will conclude today at 6 p.m..