Chennai :

Indian architecture has always been an expression of cultural traditions and a synthesis of outside cultures that had influenced it.

Through vivid photographs and sketches, the exhibition ‘Splendours of Indian Architecture’ being held by Indian National Trust for Art, Heritage and Culture (INTACH) and the MEASI Academy of Architecture, takes one through some of the well known architectural splendours like the Gol Gumbaz and the Ajantha and Ellora cave temples, along with some of the lesser known, but fascinating structures like the Rani ki Vav at Patan and the ruins at Mandu.

The exhibition has been curated by Sarayu Doshi, a scholar in Indian classical and contemporary art.

With the Indus Valley civilisation site at Lothal, the journey of Indian architecture began as early as around 2400 BC. With the Mughal Period came the Islamic influences, and later the spice route, followed by the British’s colonial style.

The ‘Charbagh’ style Mughal gardens, the ghats of Varanasi,  the motifs at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus at Mumbai and the Italian design of the Falaknuma Palace at Hyderabad depict the diversity of styles in the country, through the exhibition panels.

The exhibition was launched by Sarayu Doshi and cinematographer Rajiv Menon, who has supported INTACH in several projects.

The display is on at the exhibition hall of the MEASI Academy of Architecture, Royapettah until February 24.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 21st, 2015