The Museum of Art & Photography, MAP, located in Bengaluru, is excited to present ‘The Forgotten Souvenir,’ a first-of-its-kind exhibition that explores one of the most fragile and rare art forms—that is, Indian Mica Painting. This exhibition goes from the 30th of November 2024 till the 23rd of February 2025 and is dedicated to Khushi Bansal and serves as a reminder of a medium that once peppered the artistic scene of India and Europe but is considered to be forgotten.
The beauty behind the sheets of Mica is that it allows for fascinating stories of adaptation and cross-cultural dialogues, with each painting exuding its own tale. This exhibition serves as a gateway to India’s colonial artistic history and will serve as a milestone for art as well as history lovers.
Mica Paintings: A Most Unforgettable Souvenir
Unfortunately, mica paintings have never been seen as a hallmark art form and have therefore been relegated to the back burner of art history. Mica, the same mineral that has been used in jewelry for centuries, was delicately fused with gouache and turned into miniature paintings that brought India close to imperial officials and European travelers. The Forgotten Souvenir seeks to change this narrative by spearheading efforts aimed at reintroducing Mica back into its rightful place in history.
MAP, meanwhile, seeks to recontextualize these paintings by altering their classification, separating them from the previously used ‘Company School’ label. Since gouache was painted on delicate sheets of mica, these paintings captured the essence of Indian aesthetics fused with European art.
A Memento Of The British Raj, The Forgotten Souvenir, Pictured India’s Artistic Society.
In the worlds of fashion and culture, fads and trends have always prevailed, and India was no different a few centuries back. The Forgotten Souvenirs captures Indo-British artistic irony in the form of a Mica painting. Possibly used for tourist purposes, these paintings were created in Indian society when the country was transitioning toward modernism. As the Mughal emperors as well as Indian dignitaries were declining, these souvenirs were in high demand from British commanders as well as merchants. Thanks to Indian miniature painters, the idea of portable paintings emerged.
Some paintings captured day-to-day life and societal rifts in an intriguing manner, among many other things, such as Mariamman, who sunkissed the thin mica layer containing the intricacies of Tamil Nadu traditions. Visitors wishing to explore a glimpse of India’s booming marketplaces and thriving spiritual rituals alongside hearing the stories of colonial India’s cultural changes can do so through these paintings.
Exploring the history of Indian art
Mica paintings were extensively developed in areas around the mica-rich regions of Murshidabad in Bengal, Patna in Bihar, and Trichinopoly, or Tiruchirappalli, in Tamil Nadu. These places became the centers for the growth of an art form that focused on European taste but retained its Indian roots.
The exhibition features these pieces as part of the ’Company School’ of art, a term used to define a hybrid painting genre that emerged as a result of East India Company rule. Indian artists modified European styles like shading and perspective to their themes and styles of painting, targeting the world without losing their identity. The Forgotten Souvenir, for example, explores this artistic exchange, exhibiting the creativity and versatility of enslaved Indian artists during this period of integration with the West.
The reason why “The Forgotten Souvenir” holds significance today
During the time when souvenirs were first made, they were made of Mica paintings. Today, however, this art is very fragile, and instead of commercialization, it is brought into the spotlight due to cultural relevance along with being a historical marvel. Every art piece is a fusion of history along with the depiction of the art ratio between colonized and colonizer, tradition and modern times, artistry and utility.
The exhibition focuses on showcasing Indian art and its progression in a colonial era. It tries to spread awareness regarding the transition of Indian painting when it was integrated into military supremacy. These westernized markets do not appreciate what these beautiful art pieces tell regarding the history of their patrons and artists. The Forgotten Souvenir aims to help solve this in the form of artwork, traversing through the past and current times.
Beyond Art: More Than an Exhibition
MAP has worked hard to ensure The Forgotten Souvenir is an exhibition unlike any other. In this exhibition, guests can also find a short film by Amit Dutta, ‘Moments Before Mutiny,’ which ties into the exhibition’s focal point by providing context behind the cultural history of the era in which mica paintings flourished.
Moreover, there is a bespoke interactive room developed in conjunction with the exhibition enabling a context understanding approach towards ‘mica painting,’ encouraging the visitors to learn through exploration. More forward-looking exhibitions are achieved by MAP making double exposure efforts; technology is also embraced, enabling The Forgotten Souvenir to be much more inclusive.
Restoring a Delicate Heritage
Restoration of mica paintings comes with its own unique challenges due to their fragility. Mica sheets, which are thin and brittle, have a low tolerance toward light, humidity, and even handling. However, these prevailing challenges were overcome, and the artworks in ‘The Forgotten Souvenir’ have been carefully restored, allowing today’s viewers to comprehend the true beauty of the intricateness.
This exhibition puts on display the joint endeavors of MAP and its supporters, Mazumdar-Shaw Philanthropy, in advancing the Indian arts. Mazumdar-Shaw Philanthropy support assisted greatly in bringing the Forgotten Souvenir alive and complemented the objectives sought by MAP, which is to foster the appreciation of Indian art among a global audience.
Did you know that MAP Bengaluru worked on and published ‘The Forgotten Souvenir’ as an exhibition? Isn’t that amazing?
The Forgotten Souvenir is more than an exhibition—it represents artistic creativity, resilience, and the ability of Indian artists to adapt to their surroundings. If you adore art, take pleasure in historical events, or desire to simply immerse yourself in a cross-cultural learning experience, look no further and get ready to be amazed.
Bangalore’s MAP, located on Kasturba Road 22, is ideal to host such an event. Make sure to visit www.map-india.org for website-related details, and for social media updates and event highlights, follow @mapbangalore
Opening the doors of The Forgotten Souvenir compels us to engage with India’s history and closely inspect the intricate details of the paintings made from mica to convey stories. Come join in the celebration of art, history, and cultural engagement. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you will not be able to get again.
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