Seminars
Seminar 2
Preserving Sikh Heritage
Saturday, November 24, 2007
2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
The Punjab is the north-western gateway into the sub-continent of India and has been the entry point for a myriad of invaders and emigrants over the centuries. Criss-crossed by the ancient spice and silk routes its fertile plains were inspiration for an explosion of artistic fusions and traditions. The region developed into a cultural melting pot; an environment within which the fertile and diverse traditions of different communities clashed and spawned a multitude of hybrids.
It was in these lands that the Islamic and Hindu arts combined to create one of the greatest cultural treasuries in the world, a treasury that found a unique expression in the arts and architecture of the Sikhs. A powerful combination of robust colour, strong narrative and brutal honesty distinguish Sikh art in all its forms prompting one 19th century observer to describe the unique colour palette of the Punjab as "warm and rich and fearless". Sikh architectural traditions uniquely fuse together the predominant forms and their evolution over four centuries mirrors the maturation of the faith.
Today, that truly unique Sikh artistic heritage is under great threat. Few, buildings, if any, remain from the sacred period of the Gurus and the Sikhs' own manuscript tradition is in tatters.
Amandeep Madra will present a glittering array of Sikh material heritage and tell the often sad story of the steady and willful destruction of that heritage. The presentation will conclude with some practical steps that can be taken to preserve Sikh heritage for the future.
Location
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Glass Room
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2C6