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 The Ramayana ("Rama's Journey") is a tale of loyalty, honor, and duty that has been told in myriad forms in many parts of South and Southeast Asia for 4000 years. It has been interpreted in the arts of drama, painting, sculpture, dance, song, poetry, and music, and in our own time, in cinema, comic books, and television as well. Rama is a culture hero, a model son, brother, husband, and leader. Sita, his wife, is the model woman. Children are told: "Be as Rama." "Be as Sita." What is Rama's story? And what is it in the characters of Rama, his brother Lakshmana, Sita, and their monkey-soldier friend Hanuman, that has lived in the conscience of so many people for so long? For Hindus, Rama is the 7th incarnation of the God Vishnu, brought to earth to defeat the Demon King Ravana and infuse the earthly cycle of deeds and consequences (karma) with tenderness and virtue. Exiled from his kingdom, Rama embarked on a 14-year journey that took him from north India to south India, and then across to the island of Lanka, interpreted as modern Sri Lanka. From Lanka, he returned to his restored kingdom in a most unusual vehicle. On his journey, he met yogis, demons, supernatural friends, and societies of monkeys and bears. With them he faced challenges that reveal the depths of love, integrity, and human imperfection. The paintings seen here highlight moments in Rama's adventure. The exhibition begins with an introduction to the main characters and continues in four parts: Click here to begin the story For more information on our South Asian Collection, please visit our online catalogue.
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