Dr Michal Erlich (Jindal India Institute) and I  are delighted to invite you to a special evening celebrating the opening of our art exhibition, The Indian Saint Project, at the India Habitat Centre, Visual Art Gallery (Atrium), on Sunday, 16 March, at 19:00.
 
The Indian Saint Project is a unique fusion of art and academia, paying homage to the saints, gurus, avatars, and social reformers of 19th and 20th-century India. This exhibition is a heartfelt family collaboration with the artist duo Noy Haimovitz and Tamir Erlich. The central part of the exhibition is a series of nine digital hand-paintings of Indian Saints, which map key events from their lives and convey their core philosophies. These carefully crafted iconographies aim to create an immersive experience, inviting viewers to “hear” the saints’ vani (voice) through visual form.
 
A special highlight of the show is a handmade ceramic relief (1x1m) depicting Chapter 6 of the Chandogya Upanishad, where the Vedic sage Uddalaka Aruni imparts sacred wisdom to his son, Shvetaketu. This piece reflects the transformative power of the guru-shishya (teacher-student) tradition, beautifully illustrating Aruni’s metaphors on the nature of the Atman (true Self).
 
The Indian Saint Project  draws inspiration from India’s rich Bazaar Art movement, which flourished in the 19th and early 20th centuries, aligning with the rise of the modern Maha-guru phenomenon. In particular, we look to the iconic oleographs of Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906), whose vivid depictions of Indian deities and epic scenes have left a lasting artistic legacy.
 
The exhibition features the inspiring lives of Swaminarayan, Ramana Maharshi, Sai Baba, Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Anandamayi Ma, Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa (The Mother), Mahatma Gandhi, and B. R. Ambedkar. Each saint in this project transcended religious, social, and cultural boundaries and profoundly transformed their surroundings. They expanded the scope of human thought and cultivated well-being, spreading goodness in the world. 
 
We would love for you to join us on 16 March for this special opening evening. The exhibition will remain on display until 13 April 2025. For the best experience, we recommend visiting in the evening when the lightboxes come to life.
 
We look forward to sharing this journey with you!
 
For more information:
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