Cartographical Tales: India through Maps

Ojas Art has opened a new exhibition titled “Cartographical Tales: India through Maps”, curated by Anubhav Nath. The exhibition, located at Ojas Art, 1AQ, Near Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, New Delhi, will run from August 2, 2024, to September 22, 2024. It is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm, except on Mondays and national holidays.

This unique exhibition showcases a collection of historical maps from the 17th century up to 1946, a period that includes the time before and after India’s independence. The maps, created by renowned cartographers such as Seutter, Rennell, Mortier, Lapie, Bonne, and Tallis, illustrate the changing boundaries of the Indian subcontinent.

Before independence, the area now known as India included present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh. The maps on display trace these transformations, offering insights into how the region’s geography evolved over centuries.

Anubhav Nath, Curatorial Director of Ojas Art, explained, “The exhibition features cartographic works spanning 350 years. The display is not organized chronologically, so maps from different periods may be shown next to each other. This arrangement helps viewers appreciate the historical shifts in boundaries”.

The collection includes approximately 100 maps printed in England, France, Italy, and the USA. Cartography, the art of map-making, was especially prominent from the 17th to the 19th centuries as explorers and Western powers charted new territories.

Nath added, “These maps do more than just show borders; they tell stories of the eras they represent. Visitors might discover something new in each map every time they visit”.

The exhibition offers a fascinating look at the historical geography of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh through the lens of rare and intricate maps.

When: 11 am to 7 pm; Until September 22

Where: Ojas Art, 1AQ, Near Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, New Delhi