Oleograph with fabric and zardozi embroidery (after conservation), 35.5 × 25.4 cm, Collection: QAGOMA. Photos: QAGOMA
BRISBANE, 15 June, 2026: An exhibition showcasing rare oleographs by celebrated Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma is continuing at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), featuring a newly displayed selection of intricately embellished works inspired by Hindu mythology.
Titled The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture, the exhibition explores the intersection of devotional imagery and everyday life, drawing on the legacy of Varma (1848–1906), widely regarded as India’s first modern artist. His pioneering use of chromolithography enabled mass reproduction of religious artworks, shaping popular visual culture and household depictions of Hindu deities.
The display includes part of a 48-piece collection acquired by QAGOMA in 2024, many of which were historically used in domestic devotional settings and later hand-embellished with textiles, beads, and embroidery. The works depict figures such as Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Krishna and Ram, blending European artistic techniques with Indian themes.
QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said the pieces required complex conservation due to their mixed materials, including paper, ink, fabric, and sequins. The gallery has collaborated with India’s Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru as part of a broader conservation and research exchange supported by an Australian Government Maitri Grant.
The free exhibition runs until 26 October 2026.
