Events of the week

Persian classics

What: ‘The Haft Awrang of Jami’ presents a selection of illuminated manuscripts, a compilation of seven masnavi poems written in the 15th century. This online exhibition features Haft Awrang, which is recognised as one of the greatest Persian literary classics; and the sumptuously illuminated and illustrated folios considered a masterpiece of Islamic art. The Haft Awrang manuscript currently resides at the Smithsonian Institutions’ Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C. Since the thirteenth century, intricately designed images have formed an integral part of Persian manuscripts. The genre reached its zenith in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries during the rule of the powerful Safavid dynasty of Iran (1501–1722). The illustrated manuscript or book serves as a significant record of the artistic taste, social relations, and economic conditions of its time.

When: May 31 – June 13

Where: Website of India International Centre

Celebrating culture

What: Responding to the rich cultural heritage of Bihar, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art offers a specially focused selection of artworks of eleven artists from its steadily growing collection. The curatorial intervention as response to a gradual collapse of cultural diversities aims at creating new forms of associational life with tolerance and cohabitation as cardinal values. The virtual exhibition titled ‘Unearthing Memories of Civilisation: Curation as Archaeology’ features A Ramachandran, Arpita Singh, Gulammohammed Sheikh, Himmat Shah, Jeram Patel, LN Tallur, Madhvi Parekh, Meera Mukherjee among others. In April, the museum was to relaunch this virtual exhibition, after its inauguration at the Bihar Museum Biennale. However, due to the devastating second wave of Covid-19, it was postponed.

Where: Website of KNMA

Film fest

What: India Habitat Centre brings to you a Mexican Film Festival. The online Film Series is streaming an exclusive selection of four contemporary titles every weekend this June from Friday to Sunday. All films will have English subtitles. This weekend Espiral (2009/100 min) directed by Jorge Pérez Solano will be streamed. The film shows Mexican men who leave their families to find work, then return to find things have changed. This free online film series is organized by the Embassy of Mexico in India in association with IMCINE (Mexican Film Institute), with the support of the India Habitat Centre and the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation.

Where: Website of India Habitat Centre