Artistic spotlight on Hinduism's blue-skinned savior

‘Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior’, a major museum exhibition, focuses on one of Hinduism’s three major deities. It presents around 170 paintings, sculptures, and ritual objects that were made in India between the 4th and twentieth centuries.

This show at Brooklyn Museum (June 24–October 2, 2011) serves as a brief survey of Hindu art styles as well as an examination of the Vaishnava (Vishnu-worshipping) tradition. An accompanying note elaborates: “Hinduism, the world’s third-largest religion, was first codified in India around 1000 BCE and has been practiced there since that time, perpetually absorbing new beliefs and approaches, while continuing to recognize the sanctity of older traditions.

Each of the three primary Hindu deities—Vishnu the Preserver, Shiva the Destroyer, and Devi the Great Goddess—is believed by his worshippers to be responsible for creating and maintaining the cycle of life, and to be a portal to ultimate salvation. Some Hindus affiliate themselves with one of the three gods, while others worship more broadly. Those who worship Vishnu—an extremely large and diverse group—are known as Vaishnavas.”

Known as Hinduism’s gentle god, Vishnu is easily recognized in paintings by his blue skin. While he is an interesting figure in his primary form, the complexity of Vishnu's character becomes clear when he assumes new forms, known as avatars, in order to save the earth from various dangers. Vishnu’s ten avatars reveal the multiplicity of ways that one can envision and interact with the divine.

The first section introduces the Hindu god in his primary form, with subsections dedicated to his attributes, his consorts, and his legends. The second section examines his avatars, as a group and then individually. The incarnations more frequently celebrated in art are fully represented, with substantial subsections dedicated to both Rama and Krishna. The third section of the exhibition shows some of the ways in which Vishnu has been worshipped, with images of ritual objects.

‘Vishnu: Hinduism's Blue-Skinned Savior’ has been organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, Tennessee. It has been curated by Joan Cummins, Lisa and Bernard Selz Curator of Asian Art.