Hindu Gods and Goddesses Across Time

The images and transcendental powers of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, such as Shiva, the god of destruction and creation, Vishnu, the ever-changing god, and Lakshmi, the god of beauty and luck, have been fervently worshipped by people since ancient times. When and how were these images of the gods and goddesses disseminated?

With the core collection of Kuroda Yutaka, who has collected Indian popular religious iconography for many years, and collections from Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum, Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum, this exhibition traces the evolution of images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from ancient times to the present day.

Beginning with the artifacts of the prehistoric Indus civilization, the exhibition presents over 500 pieces including a collection of elegant Indian Sarasa and glass paintings made from the 17th century forward, folk paintings that colored the popular culture, and Varma prints, a multicolored lithography. The images of these gods and goddesses have changed over time along with the materials, techniques, and media used to express them. At the same time, the nature of the beliefs that their worshippers share has also changed.

This exhibition aims to introduce the Hindu gods, which have been the foundation of Indian culture and have been faithfully worshiped, and their fertile world through the valuable works and materials.

Exhibition Contents 

Prologue: The Birth of the Indic World: Forms of Soil, Stone, Metal

Chapter 1: Dazzling Images: Sarasa, Miniature Paintings, Glass

Chapter 2: Hindu Deities Loved by the People: Folk Paintings, Embroidery, Festivals

Chapter 3: The Advent of Printing Technology and Globalization: Books, Oleographs, Ceramics

Chapter 4: Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Chapter 5: The 21st Century: Stories Passed Down Through Generations