Restored works from India’s first great modern artist Raja Ravi Varma will be on display at the Queensland Art Gallery until October 26, 2026.
The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture features depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses in scenes adapted from mythological stories and poems.
The exhibition draws its title from Arundhati Roy’s 1997 Booker Prize-winning novel, and delves into the intersection between devotional imagery and popular culture, while exploring the omnipresence of faith in the mundane and extraordinary
The pieces in the exhibit often served as devotional pieces in Indian homes.
Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) introduced the chromolithographic press to India in the mid-19th century.
This allowed his oil paintings to be reproduced as prints, taking art from the exclusive confines of the court and sharing it with the masses.
His images influenced popular culture and household aesthetics and defined how many people visualise Hindu deities today.
QAGOMA acquired the collection of 48 embroidered oleographs through the Henry and Amanda Bartlett Trust in 2024.
QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said restoring and preserving the collection required a complex process.
“Printed and subsequently embellished over a century ago, the intricate works required significant care to stabilise their ink, paper, textiles, and even glitter and sequins for future generations to enjoy,” Mr Saines said.
To achieve this specialised treatment, QAGOMA embarked on a conservation and research exchange with counterparts in India to document and conserve the oleographs.
This cultural exchange has seen QAGOMA host conservators from the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru and send its specialist conservators Kim Bartlett and Michael Marendy to India.
Entry to the exhibit is free. For more behind the scenes information on the restoration, click here.
