Art Gallery of New South Wales Announces 'Avatar: Forms of Vishnu' Exhibition

The Art Gallery of New South Wales will host "Avatar: Forms of Vishnu," a significant exhibition exploring the Hindu deity Vishnu and his various manifestations across South and Southeast Asian art. The exhibition delves into visual storytelling traditions, drawing from mythological narratives including the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Scheduled to open on June 20, 2026, and run until October 2026, the exhibition will feature works by a range of artists. This includes historical masters such as the Master of the first generation after Manaku and Nainsukh of Guler, alongside contemporary practitioners like Gitanjali Das, Jumaadi, Desmond Lazaro, Nalini Malani, Pushpamala N, Kalam Patua, Sumakshi Singh, and Gulammohammed Sheikh.

The curatorial approach integrates a broad spectrum of mediums, from sculpture and textiles to painting, photography, and installation art. Visitors will encounter opaque watercolour, gold on paper, natural pigments, sandstone, and lace installations. The exhibition draws on loans from prominent international institutions, including the Museum Rietberg, National Museum of Cambodia, National Museum of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Museum of Art and Photography, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Ashmolean Museum, British Museum, and the Australian National University.