Durga: Creating an image of the goddess
12 August – 27 September 2006
Great Court
Exhibition closed
Part of the Voices of Bengal season
To launch the Voices of Bengal season, craftsmen from Bengal
created a spectacular image of the goddess Durga killing the
buffalo-headed demon Mahisha, in the Great Court.
The image was made using straw, clay and paint, and visitors
were able to see the whole process, from the construction of the
initial wooden structure, to the painting of the giant figures on
the tableau, which were then ornamented and dressed. It is a rare,
outside of Bengal, to be able to witness the remarkable skills of
the West Bengali craftsmen creating the image of Durga.
There was also a display of photography by John Williams of
the construction of images of the goddess Durga in Calcutta on
show in the Clore Centre foyer.
The British Museum would like to acknowledge the benefit of
experience gained from the Scottish Indian Arts Forum and National
Museums of Scotland's Making a Durga project in Edinburgh 2002.
The British Museum would also like to acknowledge the support of
the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with the Durga
project.