From ancient Buddhist stonework to photographic displays: Inside new exhibit at Bengaluru’s Museum of Art and Photography where you can play 19th-century board game

Some of the works on display have had to grapple with the wear and tear of decades or even centuries, and were worked on at the Museum of Art and Photography’s (MAP) own facilities and conservation lab. These include a 20th century wooden sculpture depicting the love deities Rathi and Kama, made in the Kinnal style from North Karnataka. Another such artwork is a 17th-century depiction of Sohni and Mahiwal, from the tragic romances of Punjabi and Sindhi folklore. Another work is truly ancient — a Bodhisattva head from Mathura dating back to the second century AD. In Buddhism, Bodhisattvas are figures who delay their attainment of enlightenment to help others.

Archaic version of Snakes and Ladders

Jain cosmology is one facet that finds representation amongst the new gallery’s exhibits – a fascinating depiction of Jain cosmology is on display near a ‘karni marni’ manuscript (readable through a digital interface) that depicts the consequences in the afterlife for various sins from the Jain perspective. Another late 1800s piece depicts an archaic version of the board game Snakes and Ladders, focusing on virtues and sins, indicating that the game would have been historically played by Jains during the holy days of Paryushan. Visitors are allowed to play the archaic version of the game via a usable reproduction on a nearby table.

A playable replica of an archaic version of Snakes and Ladders at the Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru | Express Photo by Vedhika Anoora

Engagement hub with climate library

In keeping with a focus on interactivity, the new exhibit also includes an engagement hub for visitors to step away from the exhibits for a while. The hub comprises a climate library, a wall for interactive art through the use of magnets, and written prompts that visitors can respond to.

Visitors can view the new exhibit after purchasing a ticket for the gallery on the museum’s fourth floor. Admission to the various exhibits is free on Tuesdays.