A ragamala is a pictorial illustration of a musical mode; melodies are personified as male (raga) or female (ragini) and evoke a particular emotion, element of devotion or mythological episode.
Often accompanied by a poem that further expounds upon the theme, each painting is thus a combination of three forms of artistic expression—music, poetry and painting.
A Garland of Melodies, opening in the Museum's new rotating Asian gallery, draws upon the Museum's rich collection of ragamala paintings from Nepal and India. The installation features 25 artworks, including select folios from the Museum's stunning Nepalese Ragamala album and recently donated paintings on view for the first time.
A Garland of Melodies is organized by Christine Knoke, Curator, Norton Simon Museum. -- www.nortonsimon.org
