Australia to host exhibition on the Ramayana story

Melbourne, April 14: Australia's prestigious National Gallery will host a touring exhibition featuring 101 paintings next month to showcase the great Ramayana story and highlight India's unique traditions of story-telling through art.

Some of the most important Indian art treasures would be travelling to Australia for the exhibition - 'The Story of Rama: Indian Miniatures', the first major initiative since the inking of 'Memorandum of Understanding on Arts and Culture' signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Australian visit last year.

The touring exhibition will push forward the artistic and cultural engagement between the two countries, an official statement by Australian government said today.

The exhibition will also later travel to the Immigration Museum in Melbourne. The exhibition would comprise 101 paintings from India's National Museum in New Delhi.

Attorney general and minister for Arts Senator George Brandis said the miniatures, travelling to Australia for the first time, would showcase the great Ramayana story and highlight India's great tradition of story-telling through art.

Bishop said the expanding cultural ties between India and Australia were a vital part of the strong bilateral relationship. The exhibition builds on an already vibrant cultural agenda, he said.

Indian audiences will also get to see the best of Australian musicianship when the Australian World Orchestra tours India in October this year. World renowned Maestro Zubin Mehta will also perform at the function.

PTI