Celebrating Guru Nanak’s legacy through artistic interpretation

In a significant cultural initiative, the Punjab Kala Parishad, Chandigarh, has been hosting a series of events including seminars, lectures, theatre performances, and art exhibitions under the banner of ‘Rebooting Punjab’ from 14th February to 31st March. As part of this initiative, the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, Chandigarh, opened an art exhibition at the Gallery of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. The exhibition called /”Guru Nanak Prawh: Gyan Da Prakash,/” or /”The Flow of Guru Nanak: Light of Knowledge” was part of a bigger event called /”Rebooting Punjab,/” and it was organized in association with Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi and the Punjab Kala Parishad. Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. (Dr.) Karamjeet Singh, chaired the concluding ceremony held today, after a preview of five days, with eminent artists, whose works were featured, sharing their inspiration and influence of Baba Nanak’s philosophy in creative discourse.

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This exceptional art exhibition, curated by Amritsar based senior muralist Sumit Dua, showcases a range of works inspired by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and features paintings by eminent state and national-level artists, including Sidharth, Prem Singh, and Swarnjit Singh Savi.

One of the highlights of the exhibitions was art work by Sidharth, an artist of international repute, who shared that Guru Nanak’s teachings and his journey has been an integral part of his artistic journey. Based in New Delhi, Sidharth, born as Harjinder Singh, absorbed Guru Nanak’s teachings from his parents, as his father was a ‘raagi’. As an artist, he said that he has always found inspiration from Guru Nanak’s sakis (journey), which has been the force behind some of his most celebrated works. “It’s a way to celebrate Guru Nanak’s teachings and his impact on our culture. It reminds us how important it is to keep our Punjabi heritage alive,” he said, while addressing the students and art patrons.

His unique approach to painting involves producing organic pigments from natural sources like vegetables, minerals, and earth. Recipeint of the Punjab Gaurav Award (2024), he also talked about his process of creating art and how it matches with Nanak’s core principles of harmony with nature.

Prem Singh , another distinguished artist and former Principal of the College of Art, too talked about his pen drawings on Guru Nanak are featured in the exhibition, adding a thoughtful and spiritual dimension to the event. Swarnjit Singh Savi – The Chairman of Punjab Kala Parishad, Chandigarh, an artist and poet who has created a series of paintings on Guru Nanak inspired by the ‘Janam Sakhi’ (biographical accounts) of the Guru’s life, talked about how imaginative interpretation brings new perspectives on Guru Nanak’s teachings and legacy. Amarjit Grewal, punajbi scholar and thinker, explained that his paintings help people connect with the spiritual side of Guru Nanak’s teachings

The exhibition showcased various art installations, including the acclaimed ‘Tera Hi Tera’, which is now a permanent addition to the Vice Chancellor’s office at Guru Nanak Dev University. One of the notable aspects of this exhibition is the display of photographs of rare fresco wall paintings from Gurdwara Baba Atal Sahib. These frescoes, created around the mid-19th century, depicted scenes from Guru Nanak’s life, originally painted with earthy colors and gold accents. Unfortunately, most of these original frescoes were replaced or destroyed during a controversial 1971 renovation that involved the use of synthetic paints. The exhibition highlights the historical significance of these artworks, which are rapidly deteriorating and have already been lost due to neglect and poorly executed restoration efforts. Additionally, paintings of various Sikh Gurus by R M Singh and other works created during a art workshop at Dera Baba Nanak are also on display. These artworks had been stored for several years, and with the efforts of the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, they are now re-exhibited for the public to appreciate.