Nicholas Roerich's Art finds a place in Darjeeling

One of the strongest links between Russia and Darjeeling, besides tea, has been artist, Nicholas Roerich. He produced quite a few of his mystical visions of the Himalayas, now world renowned, while living in Darjeeling in the 1920s.

A long overdue exhibition of Roerich’s prints was inaugurated for the first time in Darjeeling today, thanks to Gorky Sadan, Kolkata. Set up as a unique street exhibition, nearly 100 prints of Roerich’s work, mainly relating to the Himalayas, are on display on the Mall here.

Mr Fyodor A Rozovskiy, counsellor, Embassy of Russian Federation, who is also director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, New Delhi, inaugurated the exhibition this morning. He said: “The hills of Darjeeling have a unique place in the cultural relations between Russia and India. These mountains have been a great source of inspiration for legendary artist, philosopher, humanist, Nicholas Roerich and his family.”

It may be worth noting, Nicholas Roerich was the father of Svetoslav Roerich who married Indian actress, Devika Rani. Nicholas’ wife, Helena had died in Kalimpong in 1955 and a stupa is erected at the place where she was cremated. The stupa is now situated next to Durpin Monastery.

The Roerich exhibition also contains several works of Svetsolav. Mr Rozovskiy said that the Russian Embassy was happy to bring the Roerich exhibition to a place where the family had spent some of their best years.Nicholas Roerich and his family had reached Darjeeling in 1923. He lived here for the next five years and painted a series of internationally acclaimed works, among them the “Banners of the East” series (1924) and the world-famous masterpiece, “Kunchanjunga” (1924).

Along with the Roerich prints, the Russians have also put up an exhibition by two Russian photographers, Mr Eugene Zozulya and Mr Gleb Zinovyev. Photographs taken in Russia and India have been displayed in a manner that they complement each other, either through similarities or by contrast. The photo exhibition is entitled “Unity in Diversity.”The exhibitions will continue till 14 November.

Source> The Statesman