Episode 6: How Does India Visually Represent Itself?

In honour of Ganesh Chaturthi this week, we dive into the origins of the image of Ganesha. Why does Ganesha have an elephant head? What is the meaning of the rat beneath his feet? Why does he become a demon as he moves to the Far East? We will be examining these issues and more. Join us to be a part of the conversation!

When we visualize the conquest of the British in India, we think about stolen objects, artifacts and works of art. Several of these pieces populate the Museums of England, proudly touted on display as "must see" attractions for the public. That leaves us asking the question- how did all of these objects appear to the British public at the time of conquest? Did the British have a way of personifying themselves, and in turn, personifying India? Join us as we explore the phenomenon of colonial personified images, and how Great Britain continues to profit off of Indian objects today. 

Krishna is seen as many characters- a handsome man, mischievous little boy, passionate lover, strong warrior, philosophical leader and a Godly figure to various communities.   In the recent light of the #metoo movement that has called out  men like Harvey Weinstein and Sajid Khan, should we add Krishna to the list? Looking back to texts like the Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Gita Govindam and other stories that stars Krishna and his questionable actions, the question is can we apply our contemporary moral values and ideals to texts that date back to many centuries ago? This topic has peaked our interest as well, so tune into this week's episode where we immerse ourselves into the life and doings of Krishna!

How do we see female bodies in Indian art? How has our aesthetic changed? This episode features the women behind the HIA podcast in spontaneous conversation about bodies, appeal, artistic depictions and finding jeans that fit! Join the conversation at www.instagram.com/honestindianart or write us an email at [email protected]

On this special episode for Independence Day, join us as we unpack the images that define India as a nation. How do we choose icons that represent us? What were the criteria that defined these choices during Independence? How do we celebrate such a collection of diverse visual cultures, through a few simple objects that inspire patriotism? Join us as we discuss all this and more! Happy Independence Day!

In continuation of last week’s episode, this week we examine the far reaching impact of choosing a historical narrative. The representation of Islam in Indian cinema and mainstream media is often seen as villainous- a depiction that makes it easier to “other” the community. What are the images used in this depiction? How do we connect them to larger art historical issues?

In honour of Bakrid, this week’s episode will dissect and discuss the narrative of Muslim rulers as destroyers of Hindu architecture and as invaders on the sub-continent. This particular argument has been used by various politicians for years, and we have come to realise that there's more to the story.  We refer to the scholarly works of Richard Eaton and Romila Thapar to break down and bust the myths that have since ruled our understanding of medieval Indian history. Were Muslim rulers the only ones to desecrate and practice iconoclasm? Did they have religious motives or were they political? Or were their decisions driven by both religion and politics? Are Hindu kings to be blamed as iconoclasts? Or is there more to the history of destruction of medieval Indian art? Listen in as we try to answer these important yet riveting questions!

Is sex in Indian art supposed to be scandalous? Is it pornographic? Or does it represent something that is deeper than physicality? We go back in time to explore the various portrayals of sexual union in Hindu temples, scriptures like the Kamasutra, Mughal painting and jain paintings. We will examine the stories behind 'The Perfumed Garden' and the Chandayana. We discuss their meaning, and analyse the association of sex with Gods, kings, female desire, contrasting the depiction of sex in the East and West. We answer questions of why genitalia in association of God is unacceptable, the true purpose of the Kamasutra and many more enlighteming concepts! 

In his seminal essay titled "My Hanuman is Bigger Than Yours" scholar Philip Lutgendorf draws our attention to the giant Hanuman idols that continue to be built across the Indian subcontinent and around the world. Why is Hanuman seen in more and more depictions both in pop culture and in politics? Where do we find the roots of this popularity? In this episode, we trace the historical depictions of Hanuman in politics and the constant questions revolving around his identity and birth place. Join us, as we answer these questions and this struggle of power in claiming Hanuman.

Why are images important? How do we interact with them? On this episode, we delve into our interaction with images- either through fashioning them to suit our social/political needs, or through changing the ways we view them from analog to digital. Join us to examine the relevance of the image to art history, and to our lives.