Rabindranath Tagore's "The Last Harvest" Exhibition Starts April 3

by Soon Li Wei KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- The National Visual Arts Gallery and the Indian High Commission of Malaysia are organising "The Last Harvest, An International Exhibition of Paintings" showcasing the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Asia's first Nobel Prize in Literature recipient in 1913, from April 3 to July 15. The exhibition, commemorating Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birthday, is scheduled to be opened by Information, Communication and Culture secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf on April 2. Director-general Mohd Yusof Ahmad expressed that the Gallery was proud to be hosting such an event for the first time in Malaysia and described it as an opportunity to introduce the renowned philosopher and poet to the local community. "Fourty-nine of his original art pieces which were just on show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London would be included in the exhibition here. His works of art are priceless," he said at a press conference here Wednesday. Also present at the conference was Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Vijay K.Gokhale. According to Yusof, apart from the art pieces there would also be a seminar on the biography of the Tagore, to create awareness on his life and achievements. Tagore, a poet, song composer, philosopher, artist and educationist played a critical role in India's struggle for independence from the British, alongside the founders of modern day India, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. He visited Malaya in 1927 and gave talks at several iconic institutions including the St. Francis Institution, Melaka, Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur and Penang's Chung Ling High School in north Malaysia. Throughout his tour of Asia, he was described as a harbinger of peace and harmony and for raising the region's awareness of these qualities. He died in 1941. Vijay explained that Malaysia was chosen as the host for the event with the aim to introduce this great persona to the local community and also to indirectly strengthen ties between the two nations. "His drawings and paintings were radically different from the art that India saw at the time, he did not name his paintings and there is no clear theme to his works but they reflect his thoughts and feelings, and also his philosophy titled 'The Last Harvest," Vijay elaborated. The exhibits are part of India's national heritage and would be on loan from the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and the University of Viswabharati, founded by Tagore. -- BERNAMA