Australia and India Celebrate Shared Heritage through “The God of Small Things” Exhibition
In October, the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane opened its doors to a mesmerizing new exhibition titled The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture. This landmark event brought a touch of India’s spiritual and artistic richness to Australian shores, highlighting the deepening cultural ties between the two nations.
Taking its name from Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize – winning novel, the exhibition explores how faith and spirituality shape both ordinary routines and extraordinary moments. Through art, objects, and imagery, The God of Small Things reveals the sacred that resides within the everyday — a theme that resonates deeply across both Indian and Australian cultures.
At the heart of the exhibition are 48 rare oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906), one of India’s most celebrated 19th-century painters. His pioneering work, blending European realism with Indian iconography, transformed how sacred imagery was understood and shared. The vivid depictions of Hindu deities such as Goddess Lakshmi, alongside portraits of aristocrats and commoners, offer visitors a window into the evolving relationship between devotion and art.
Beyond the artworks themselves, the exhibition symbolizes a vibrant partnership between Australia and India. QAGOMA collaborated with the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru on a conservation and research exchange, dedicated to documenting and preserving Ravi Varma’s delicate prints. Supported by a Maitri grant from the Centre for Australia-India Relations, the initiative underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to cultural preservation and mutual understanding.
As visitors in Brisbane experienced the depth of Indian spirituality through art, The God of Small Things became more than just an exhibition — it was a celebration of friendship, creativity, and the enduring bond between Australia and India.
