Abhay K. with his paintings on Shunyta. Photo credit: Deepak Parvatiyar
Patna: Bihar Museum, Patna will host an exhibition of paintings on the Buddhist philosophy of Shunyata by local boy Abhay K., a renowned poet, artist and diplomat, from October 1-10, 2024.
The exhibition explores the Buddhist philosophy of Shunyata which translates as Insubstance or Emptiness.
Speaking about his exhibition at the Bihar Museum, Abhay K. said —“It is a matter of immense pride for me to get the opportunity to exhibit my artworks at state of the art Bihar Museum. I’m very excited about exhibiting my artworks in my home state of Bihar, where the philosophy of Shunyata took birth.”
Anjani Kumar Singh, Director General, Bihar Museum, Patna in his note about the exhibition said —“Abhay K. has exhibited his paintings in several countries. However, it is his first exhibition in his home state of Bihar, and we are delighted to host his debut exhibition, ‘Shunyata’, at Bihar Museum, Patna. He has exhibited his works earlier in Russia, Brazil and Madagascar and is now returning to his roots with an exhibition of paintings on the Buddhist concept of Shunyata or Emptiness which Bodhisatva Avlokiteshvara had revealed to Sariputra on the Griddhkut Parvat (Vulture’s Peak) in Rajgriha (Rajgir) in Bihar, which is part of widely known Heart Sutra. As someone who has witnessed his work, I can attest to the novelty and transcendentality he brings to his artworks.”
The exhibition will be inaugurated by Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar on October 1.
Also read: ‘Shunyata’ in New Delhi
Abhay K. is a poet, editor, translator, artist and diplomat. His painting exhibitions have been held in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. He is also the author of several poetry collections and the editor of six books including The Book of Bihari Literature. His poems have appeared in over a hundred literary magazines across the globe and his ‘Earth Anthem’ has been translated into over 160 languages. He received the SAARC Literary Award (2013) and was invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (2018). His translations of Kalidasa’s Meghaduta and Ritusamhara from Sanskrit won him the KLF Poetry Book of the Year Award (2020–21). His translation of the Magahi novel Fool Bahadur has been published by Penguin Random House, India.
– global bihari bureau
