The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru will present a comprehensive exploration of feline imagery in Indian art, opening November 8, 2025, and running through March 29, 2026.
The exhibition examines how Indian artists have employed the figure of the cat to address socio-cultural themes across various media, including miniature paintings, sculptures, matchbox covers, and artist sketchbooks. Featured artists include Jamini Roy, K.G. Subramanyan, Chandana Hore, and Bhupendra Baghel, with works spanning multiple time periods and materials.
Conceived as a tribute to art historian and critic B.N. Goswamy, who documented feline influence on visual culture in his book The Indian Cat: Stories, Paintings, Poetry, and Proverbs, the exhibition presents the cat as a subversive, political, mischievous, and whimsical character throughout Indian art history.
MAP has designed the exhibition with accessibility in mind, incorporating an in-gallery AR-T detective game, audio stories, tactile works, Indian Sign Language (ISL) videos, and curator-led walkthroughs to engage diverse audiences.
The Museum of Art & Photography, which opened to the public in February 2023, is custodian to over 100,000 artworks spanning from the 10th century to the present. The seven-storey facility includes galleries, an auditorium, library, research and conservation facility, and various public spaces.
Exhibition Details:
- Title: The Many Lives of the Cat
- Dates: November 8, 2025 – March 29, 2026
- Venue: Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru
- Curator: Khushi Bansal
Cover Image: Woman, Cat | Chandana Hore | 2005 | Oil on canvas
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