Mother, motherhood, Mother Nature: unifying connections at National Gallery of Modern Art

In an effort to explore the universal theme of motherhood, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru has curated two distinct exhibitions this month. The first exhibition, titled "One Mother, Many Mother Tongues," showcases the diverse ways in which motherhood is depicted across various cultures and artistic traditions.

One standout piece in the exhibition is Sandro Botticelli's renowned oil painting, Madonna and Child, dating back to around 1490. This artwork, along with others such as Mater Matuta, Hariti, Skandamata, and Chamunda, highlights the recurring motifs of motherhood, fertility, care, divinity, and the mother-child relationship seen in societies worldwide.

The exhibition, curated by Naman Parmeshwar Ahuja and Andrea Anastasio, is a collaboration between the Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. By bringing together ancient Etruscan sculptures from Italy and exceptional Indian sacred artworks, the NGMA aims to spark an intercultural dialogue on the common threads that connect humanity through the concept of motherhood.

The NGMA's photo essay highlights various highlights from the exhibition, inviting viewers to reflect on how very different societies can arrive at similar visual representations of motherhood, even across vastly different historical periods and artistic styles.