The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) in Sydney is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition titled Avatar: Forms of Vishnu, running from 20 June to 5 October. The show features hundreds of ancient and modern interpretations of the Hindu god Vishnu, spanning 15 centuries of South and Southeast Asian art. Visitors will encounter Vishnu in many forms, from the man-lion Narasimha to the blue-skinned Krishna.
Highlights of the Exhibition
Curated by AGNSW's Melanie Eastburn, Dr Chaitanya Sambrani, and Emma Joyce, the exhibition includes a diverse array of artworks. A 12th-century bronze from East India or Nepal depicts Vishnu at the center of a lotus, surrounded by petals representing his avatars, holding a lotus, conch shell, citron, and an unidentified object. Another piece, a 19th-century ink drawing from Bali, illustrates scenes from the Ramayana, including Rama winning Sita's hand and her rescue from Ravana.
Ancient Sculptures
A sandstone lintel from Cambodia (c. 100–800) shows Vishnu reclining on the serpent Ananta Shesha, with Brahma emerging from a lotus from Vishnu's navel. A sandstone sculpture of Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana captures a heroic moment from Hindu mythology. A bronze Narasimha from India (c. 1529–1736) holds symbols of cosmic authority, with a tiny Lakshmi on his chest.
Paintings and Manuscripts
A late 18th-century watercolor from India or Pakistan depicts Krishna defeating the demon Bana on a chaotic battlefield. Another painting from c. 1690–1700 shows Narasimha killing the demon Hiranyakashipu, exploiting every loophole to defeat him at twilight on a threshold. A Kalighat-style watercolor from 1880–99 portrays Vishnu as Matsya the fish. A mid-18th-century folio illustrates Rama chasing the golden deer Maricha, a pivotal moment in the Ramayana. A late 18th-century painting shows Sita offering fruits to Rama in the Dandaka forest.
Modern Interpretations
An oleograph from c. 1894–1930 by Raja Ravi Varma depicts Vishnu with Lakshmi and Bhu Devi on Garuda, embellished with cloth and embroidery. Gitanjali Das's 2025 pattachitra on tussar silk shows Navagunjara, a composite creature of nine animals representing Vishnu. Desmond Lazaro's 2026 painting on birch board reinterprets the churning of the Ocean of Milk, with Vishnu as Kurma the tortoise.
The exhibition offers a comprehensive journey through the iconography of Vishnu, blending ancient traditions with contemporary artistry.
