Durga: Avenging Goddess, Nurturing Mother
The Norton Simon Museum presents Durga: Avenging Goddess, Nurturing Mother from October 7, 2005 through March 13, 2006. This noteworthy exhibition explores various themes of the great Hindu goddess Durga and includes approximately 75 artworks from India, Tibet, Nepal and Southeast Asia. In addition to the works on display from the Museum’s vast collection of South Asian art, the exhibition will feature a number of loans from private collections and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Within the Hindu pantheon, Durga is revered as both a ferocious warrior and a nurturing mother. Due to her dual nature she is often called the “Great Goddess.” In order to accomplish her various missions, Durga assumes different physical forms or manifestations known as avatars, who are given unique names; however, they are all forms of the same goddess. This exhibition explores the many ways in which Durga has been represented in art from the 13th century until today.