Exquisite sculptures that reveal the centrality of deity worship in ancient India

A series of exceptional works on view at the Massachusetts-based Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) reveal the centrality of deity worship in rural India, where devotees place great faith in their powers to protect, grant success, and reverse misfortune.

According to the guest curator of the exhibition, Cathleen Cummings, PEM has installed these se sculptures in a manner that evokes the devotional context in which they were originally used – and also to convey the ceremonial aspects of them. Devotional bronzes, whether cast as masks, plaques or three-dimensional sculpture, exude personality and serve the dual purpose of being the focal point of a shrine and a mobile spiritual effigy in ceremonies.

‘Faces of Devotion’ introduces visitors to an array of revered Indian deities, from Hanuman the monkey god and Panjurli the wild boar to the warrior-goddess Durga and the all-powerful Shiva. The showcase lets visitors connect with another culture through objects that are at once aesthetically absorbing and ritually significant," elaborates Susan Bean, Curator of South Asian and Korean Art at the museum. "We hope that our visitors walk away with an expanded world view and an enhanced understanding of India's rich cultural and artistic heritage."

It gives visitors a chance to dig further, learn more through interactive multimedia, and explore the contemporary relevance and pervasive presence of Hindu gods in diverse aspects of Indian culture, including films, photography, comic books, fine art and more.

The Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. The museum's collections are among the finest of their kind, showcasing an unrivaled spectrum of American art and architecture (including four National Historic Landmark buildings) and outstanding Asian, Asian Export, Native American, African, Oceanic, Maritime and Photography collections.

Along with the exhibition, ‘‘Faces of Devotion’, a series of events were held over time to celebrate a rich legacy of cultural exchange with India, and establishes a strong connection between the rich Indian art and culture represented in its collection!