In March 2025, In The Dappled Light opened at the Sarmaya archive in Fort Mumbai. Our show focused on how India’s natural world has inspired artists, scientists, healers and seekers across the centuries. It showcased rare botanical illustrations, including folios from the 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus; depictions of nature-worship from Indian art, like Warli, Gond and Madhubani; and impassioned voices for diversity from contemporary art. This curation of stories is inspired by and builds upon the themes of our show.
‘1001 and Counting’ – Sudarshan Shaw’s art encounters with India’s tigers
For a special edition of Sarmaya Talks held during our show, artist Sudarshan shared glimpses of his journey creating a unique art style 'Folk Indica' to showcase India's bio-cultural diversity
Ganja & Mahua – A Gond love story
Gond Adivasi artist Ram Singh Urveti narrates the story of two trees sacred to his community's faith
Tree of life – Eternal motifs in Indian art
A short film showcasing the wonderfully diverse representations of the Tree Of Life in tribal, indigenous and traditional Indian art forms
Gopa Trivedi’s Gulistan
Drawing from Persian poetry, Mughal gardens, and colonial botanical studies, Gopa Trivedi's painting series 'Gulistan' explores urgently contemporary themes like othering and pluralism
Kerala On My Mind – The art of KP Pradeepkumar
In KP Pradeepkumar’s brooding, poetic landscapes, nature is not a passive backdrop but a powerful force that demands our attention
The Art & Science of Indian Botanicals
The journey of botanical art in India, from 1500s to today—accompanied by luscious botanical art from the Sarmaya collection
Anatomy Of A Flower – Exquisite 19th-Century Botanicals by Indian Artists
A rare book from our collection, 'Indian Botany' by Dr Robert Wight combines scientific survey with outstanding illustrations by artists we will never know. Our interview with Dr Henry Noltie throws new light on them
Dreams in Watercolour: Botanicals from Bombay
The delicate and delectable painted illustrations by Mary Elizabeth and William Butt in this rare tome are a testament to the everlasting beauty of nature