Kangra miniature art to be displayed in Romania

The Indian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, has invited the Kangra Arts Promotion Society (KAPS) to organise an exhibition of Kangra miniature paintings at the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. The exhibition, scheduled from June 5 to June 15, will showcase the intricate and vibrant art form of Kangra miniatures to an international audience.

Dr Akshay Runchal, president of KAPS, said this would be the society’s first international exhibition. He expressed hope that the event would generate global interest in the art, which, despite its historical significance, has seen a decline in practitioners in its native region of Kangra. The society has been actively working to promote and preserve the art form, including setting up an art gallery in McLeodganj to support existing artists.

Kangra miniature painting is a part of the broader Pahari painting tradition, which flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries. These paintings are known for their delicate brushwork, naturalistic themes, and vibrant colors derived from minerals and vegetables.

The global recognition of Pahari paintings gained momentum in the 1990s when the Rietberg Museum in Zurich organised the ‘Pahari Masters’ exhibition. Scholars like BN Goswamy and Eberhard Fischer further contributed to its resurgence through research publications. Following this, the demand for these paintings increased significantly, leading to record-breaking sales at international auctions.

In a notable example, a Basohli-style ‘Rasamanjari’ painting was sold at Sotheby’s auction in London for £140,000 (Rs 74 lakh). A Basohli-style depiction of Devi and the sage Chyavan was later acquired by the Freer Gallery in Washington for approximately Rs 1 crore. A Mandi-style painting of Krishna taming the serpent Kaliya fetched Rs 6 crore.

Kangra and Guler paintings, closely linked to the Pahari style, have also commanded high prices. Last year, two Guler miniature paintings were sold at an auction in Mumbai—one, created by the legendary 18th-century artist Nainsukh, depicted Raja Balwant Dev’s musical soiree and fetched Rs 15 crore. Another, by an unknown descendant of Nainsukh, illustrated a verse from poet Jayadeva and sold for Rs 16 crore.