Today’s post was written by Siena Andrews, a senior at Loyola Marymount University majoring in African American studies, with a minor in journalism. Siena works on the outreach and engagement team at William H. Hannon Library.
This groundbreaking exhibition, on display through Mar. 31, 2025, presents a contemporary interpretation of the Janamsakhi tradition through the work of two distinguished artists, Keerat Kaur and Avtar Singh. Janamsakhi paintings, which historically illustrated the life and teachings of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh faith, have long served as both biographical accounts and early examples of Sikh artistic expression. This exhibition demonstrates how modern artists are reimagining this traditional art form to address contemporary social, environmental, and spiritual concerns.
The Artists
Avtar Singh (b. 1982, Haibatpur, Panjab, India) brings his unique perspective as both farmer and teacher to his work. His paintings, executed in the traditional Janamsakhi style, confront pressing issues facing modern Punjab: crop stubble burning, excessive use of agricultural chemicals, drug abuse, and youth migration. Singh’s work poses a powerful question: How would Guru Nanak respond to today’s environmental and social challenges? His commissioned pieces for this exhibition specifically address the rapid urbanization of Punjab’s landscape while highlighting grassroots efforts to combat these changes.
Keerat Kaur (b. 1991, London, Ontario, Canada) creates work at the intersection of Sikh philosophy and contemporary artistic expression. Her practice skillfully weaves together metaphor, symbolism, and language. For this exhibition, Kaur presents two new paintings inspired by the Suraj Prakash Granth, focusing on Mata Sulakhni, wife of Guru Nanak. These works explore Mata Sulakhni’s experience during the 25 years of Guru Nanak’s travels (Udasis), portraying both her grief (birha) and her remarkable strength (bal) in maintaining family life during this prolonged separation.
Exhibition Themes
The exhibition is enriched by poetic contributions from Anju Bala and Jessi Kaur, whose verses create a dialogue with the visual works, adding additional layers of meaning and reflection. This interdisciplinary approach mirrors the historical Janamsakhi tradition, where text and image worked in harmony to convey spiritual and moral teachings.
Through these contemporary interpretations, the exhibition demonstrates how traditional artistic forms can be adapted to address modern concerns while maintaining their spiritual and cultural significance. The works presented here serve as a bridge between historical Sikh artistic traditions—which span regions from the Punjab Hills to Kashmir, Murshidabad/Lucknow, and the Deccan—and contemporary global concerns about environmental stewardship, social justice, and personal resilience.
Acknowledgments
This exhibition is generously supported by the Uberoi Foundation for Religious Studies, with special thanks to the Sikh Student Association at Loyola Marymount University.
Curated by Sonia Dhami, this exhibition represents a significant contribution to the ongoing dialogue between traditional religious art and contemporary social concerns, while highlighting the often-overlooked narratives of women in religious history.
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