Expressions of Divinity

Details:

Expressions of Divinity explores the teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and how they hold meaning for artists today. The exhibition will showcase a selection of work from celebrated artists from India, Arpana Caur and Devender Singh. The works featured represent several collections from the Greater Bay Area, most notably the prestigious collection of Dr. Narinder S. and Mrs. Satinder K. Kapany. The depth and breadth of the Kapany Collection serves as wonderful resource for the study of great Sikh Art and the vast collection has traveled globally, most recently with the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. This exhibition is in collaboration with the Sikh Foundation, founded by the Kapany’s in 1967. The Foundation is a valuable resource in advancing educational discourse around Sikh arts and culture.

Arpana Caur and Devender Singh’s work depict various aspects of Guru Nanak’s travels, visions, and poetry. Caur’s paintings present the Guru as a visionary and reformist whose teachings are at the core of spiritual beliefs within Sikh culture. Singh’s work focuses on the visual interpretation of Guru Nanak’s Baramaha verses as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. Expressions of Divinity will also feature the work of local Sikh American artists in conversation with Caur and Singh. They explore how historical events and contemporary themes of divinity help shape identity in the diasporic Sikh community.