"Varanasi in Bratislava": PM Modi visits unique exhibition crafted by Slovak artisans at Presidential Palace
Bratislava, June 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited a unique exhibition at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava inspired by Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. During the visit, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini accompanied Prime Minister Modi and warmly welcomed him at the Presidential Palace.
The exhibition is the result of a unique international art project organised in cooperation with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The project aimed to foster cultural dialogue through visual art and offer Slovak artists an opportunity to explore and interpret "Varanasi," one of the world's oldest living cities and a timeless symbol of India's spiritual heritage.
The exhibition presents a diverse collection of artworks reflecting the individual perspectives, artistic languages, and personal responses of each participant. Some works focus on the city's architecture, riverfronts, rituals, and vibrant streets, while others explore its atmosphere, symbolism, and spiritual dimension.
Together, these artworks reveal the many ways in which a single place can be perceived, interpreted, and transformed into visual expression.
According to details displayed near the exhibition, "Five Slovak artists, Agnesa Vavrinova, Luka Brase, Peter Zanony, Stefan Kocka, and Peter Pollag, participated in an artistic residency in Varanasi from 2 to 9 June. During their stay, they immersed themselves in the city's distinctive atmosphere, observed its daily life, visited important historical and spiritual sites, and experienced the unique energy that has made Varanasi a source of inspiration for centuries."
It also says, "The project also included Peter Uchnar and Stanislav Harangozo, who were unable to travel to India but embraced the same artistic challenge from Slovakia. Drawing on research, visual materials, and their own creative imagination, they developed works inspired by the theme of Varanasi. Their contributions offer an interesting counterpart to those created through direct personal experience of the city."
Through their works, the artists invite viewers to discover Varanasi not only as a physical place but also as a source of reflection, inspiration, and dialogue between different worlds and traditions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Brilliant initiative! "Varanasi in Bratislava" is exactly the kind of soft power we need—art that transcends borders. The fact that two artists worked from Slovakia without visiting India shows how powerful imagination and research can be. Though, I wonder if they truly captured the chaos and spirituality without getting drenched in a Ganga aarti boat! 😄
This is wonderful, but let's be honest—how many Indians will actually get to see this? The exhibition is in Bratislava, not Varanasi. ICCR should consider bringing this back to India for a tour. Imagine the cultural dialogue it could spark in our own cities! Still, kudos to the Slovak artists for their effort.
As a Varanasi local, I'm both proud and skeptical. The city is more than just "spiritual energy"—it's the smell of kachoris, the chaos of narrow lanes, the relentless cycle of life and death. Can five days truly capture that? I'm curious how the works look; hope they don't reduce Kashi to just a postcard.
Impressive cultural exchange! PM Modi's soft power game is strong—using art to bridge continents. The Slovak artists' interpretations of Varanasi must be fascinating, especially those who worked remotely. I'd love to see a digital gallery of this exhibition; it deserves global visibility beyond Bratislava.
"Varanasi in Bratislava"—what a beautiful concept! The fact that artists immersed themselves in the city
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