This summer, the Asia Society presents an exhibition celebrating the sacred city of Banaras (Varanasi). Banaras: The Luminous City highlights the historical, religious and cultural significance of this ancient spiritual center from traditional and modern viewpoints, and, through a unique high-tech feature, offers museumgoers a virtual visit to this phenomenal Indian city. Comprising nineteenth-century photographs from the Alkazi Collection of Photography and contemporary photographs, the first part of the show offers views of past and present Banaras. The second part, called "The Crossing: Living, Dying and Transformation in Banaras," is a multi-media presentation employing different forms of interactive technology as an exploration of this complex spiritual and social site. The exhibition will be on view at the Asia Society and Museum from June 11 through August 18, 2002.




About Banaras

The city of Banaras is better known to Hindus as Kashi (the Luminous) or Varanasi (the place where the Varana and Asi Rivers flow). Situated on the banks of the river Ganges, the city once served as a nexus for trade and was a great center of religious learning. Today it is the oldest living city in the world and also a revered pilgrimage site for millions of Hindus. In Hindu tradition the city is considered important at multiple mythical and symbolic levels. It represents a cosmic crossing point or threshold where the soul steps over from the material world and into eternity. Banaras is also considered the earthly home of Lord Shiva - one of the three main deities of the Hindu trinity - and is dotted with many temples and shrines dedicated to this divinity. The city is also intimately connected to the holy river Ganges on the banks of which it is situated. The numerous ghats, or long flights of stone steps along the riverfront, hum with constant ritual activity throughout the day as thousands of pilgrims perform ablutions and propitiate the sacred river. Some of the most important rituals relate to the dying and the dead. The burning embers of the numerous cremation pyres along the ghats provide a powerful symbol of the integral relation between life and death, which are part of the same unceasing cycle of creation.

The Exhibition

The first part of the exhibition curated by Sepia International and The Alkazi Collection of Photography, includes black and white photographs documenting Banaras's rich past. The Alkazi Collection of Photography is a privately owned archive of primarily nineteenth-century photographs focusing on India and South Asia. The photographs, collected by Ebrahim Alkazi, include landscapes, architectural and archaeological views, portraits, sociological studies, scientific explorations, military campaigns and ceremonial events. Mr. Alkazi was among the first to collect photographic prints from these regions, often in the form of albums.

The photographs on display encapsulate moments reflecting the timeless beauty of Banaras. The early photographs include images of pilgrims performing their rituals on the ghats at dawn, washermen doing laundry along the riverside at noon, the flickering flames of cremation pyres, the unforgettable sunset seen from barges on the Ganges, and many more sights. These are juxtaposed with contemporary photographs by Linda Connor, Edward Grazda, Graciela Iturbide, Richard Lannoy, Dayanita Singh, and Rosalind Solomon. These contemporary views present vignettes of the bustling, living city: rickshaw pullers ferrying people along the narrow crowded lanes of the city, the busy markets peopled with merchants selling a variety of wares ranging from silk brocades to betel-nut sweets, and the priests serving the needs of the many pilgrims at the various Shiva temples. Together, the photographs illustrate the manifold faces of the city and its occupants, all engaged in the unceasing drama of life and death.

The second part of the exhibition, "The Crossing: Living, Dying and Transformation in Banaras" highlights the cultural and religious significance of Banaras through a novel synthesis of cutting-edge technology and traditional artworks. Using the latest interactive technology designed by researchers from the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), "The Crossing" transports visitors on a virtual pilgrimage to the city. High-tech components embedded within religious icons and decorative objects created by Indian craftsmen provide visitors with unique and enjoyable ways to interact with technology and use it as a vehicle to explore and discover both the physicality and spirituality of Banaras. The objects are housed in interactive installations evoking the rituals and spiritual purification undergone by pilgrims as they visit this sacred city. These stations offer a virtual experience of the multifaceted and vibrant daily life of Banaras with its bustling markets, serene riverbanks and holy sites.

The E-Rickshaw, for example, is an interactive rickshaw that allows the visitor to navigate the city by moving its handlebars, projecting an image of the viewer's journey through the narrow alleyways lined with temples and shops. After touring the busy city streets visitors may experience the mysticism of one of Banaras's numerous Shiva temples and learn more about the myths related to this deity at the next installation. This features a range of handcrafted smart-touch objects such as a trishul or trident, which activate a variety of electronic lingams or iconic representations of Shiva, each offering a story about the presiding deity of the city. Another interactive piece is a 360-degree Tilty Wheel that enables visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the river Ganges and its surroundings, which are central to the Banaras experience. By manipulating this wheel museumgoers may witness the fascinating scenery and activity along the banks of the river, including the city's medieval architecture, the serene early morning sunrise and the daily rituals performed on the ghats or riverbank steps.

This component of the exhibition draws attention to both the transformation of individuals in the Indian belief system as well as the transformation of Indian culture today as it reconciles tradition with modernity in a seamless interface. Through the photographs of the past and the modern interactive installations, the exhibition presents a complete, holistic experience of the city of Banaras to a broad and diverse American audience. "The Crossing" was recently the recipient of an award of distinction for interactive art installation and design at the Prix Ars Electronica.

Acknowledgments

Banaras: The Luminous City
This two-part exhibition is made possible with major support from the Flora Family Foundation, MCorp, and Duggal Visual Solutions, Inc. Additional suport is provided by Amita and Purnendu Chatterjee, Katharine and Rohit Desai, The Infinity Foundation, and the India Country Fund Endowment.

The project is made possible through the Asia Society's Cultural programs is also provided by the Friends of Asian Arts, The Starr Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds, Hazen Polsky Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, American Express, Philip Morris Companies Inc., Doris Wiener, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

The Crossing Project: Living, Dying and Transformation in Banaras A Multi-Media Cultural Learning Exhibition
Development of the project was supported through Xerox PARC – DMO collaboration, based on PARC research. Support for the New York presentation made possible through Xerox Corporation Developing Markets Operation, Xerox Innovation Group, The Sacred World Foundation, Deepak Chopra, and Unni Warrier.

Banaras in Photographs
This exhibition is courtesy of Sepia International, and The Alkazi Collection of Photography.

Copyright © 2002 Asia Society