Jun 26 2026 to Jun 26 2026 6:30 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The gold-leaf technique is the same, but the placement differs. The deities are the same, but their depiction differs. 

Thanjavur and Mysore are hundreds of kilometres apart; their language, and culture, distinct. When the Vijayanagar Empire fell, its artistic tradition split, taking root in completely different soils and blossoming with the local aesthetic sensibilities.

This conversation brings together curator R G Singh and designer H S Dharmendra. Together, they discuss and compare the two South Indian artistic traditions. The session concludes with an audience Q&A.

Speakers

R G Singh
Curator & Cultural Advocate
R G Singh is a collector, curator, and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving and promoting Karnataka’s artistic heritage. Inspired by a lifelong fascination with traditional paintings and artefacts, he has built an exceptional collection of Mysore paintings over nearly four decades, culminating in the establishment of the Ramsingh Museum of Mysore Paintings in 2020. As Honorary Secretary of Ramsons Kala Pratishtana (RKP), he has supported research, conservation, and public engagement with traditional arts and crafts.

Through initiatives such as Ramsons Bombe Mane, Mysore’s renowned annual doll exhibition, Ramsons Kreedaa Kaushalya, which revives traditional Indian board games, and the Kaladevi Doll Museum, South India’s first doll museum, Singh has helped bring cultural traditions to new generations. He has also curated numerous exhibitions celebrating Mysore painting, Karnataka crafts, and the works of leading artists, making him an important contributor to the region’s cultural life.

H S Dharmendra
Researcher & Designer
H S Dharmendra (Raghu) is an art historian, curator, researcher, and designer based in Mysuru. Holding postgraduate degrees in Computer Applications and Fine Arts (Art History), and currently pursuing studies in Ancient History and Archaeology, he serves as the art historian and designer at Ramsons Kala Pratishtana (RKP) and as curator of the Kaladevi Doll Museum and the Ramsingh Museum of Mysore Paintings. His work focuses on traditional Mysore paintings, Indian dolls, and indigenous board games.

A former guest lecturer in Art History and Aesthetics at CAVA, Mysuru, Dharmendra is the co-author of several publications, including Indian Traditional Board Games – A Guide to the Art of Play and Mysuru Chitra Siri. He has curated exhibitions, symposia, and research projects on traditional art forms, and regularly delivers lectures and presentations on Mysore painting and Indian board games at national and international forums.