Posted on 9 September 2025:
Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route Exhibition Illuminates India’s Coastal Heritage at Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi
On the evening of 6th September 2025, the Visual Arts Gallery at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, shimmered with the glow of heritage and artistry as Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route unfurled its sails.
Curated with poetic precision by Jaya Mani and presented by DRAVIDAM, Bangalore, the exhibition opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, setting the tone for a journey steeped in cultural resonance.
With the support of Sumathy Sodhi and the presence of dignitaries like Shri Naveen Patnaik, the showcase became a confluence of legacy and contemporary expression.
AS THE EXHIBITION VOYAGES: THE ANCIENT MARITIME SILK ROUTE UNFOLDED ITS TAPESTRY OF TIME, IT WELCOMED A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR—SHRI NAVEEN PATNAIK, HON’BLE MEMBER OF THE ODISHA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND FORMER CHIEF MINISTER OF ODISHA—WHOSE PRESENCE ADDED A LAYER OF GRAVITAS TO THE SHOWCASE.
Standing amidst the evocative works of muralist Suresh Muthukulam and textile artist Gunjan Jain, he reflected on the exhibition’s soul: a celebration of the cultural currents that once flowed freely between the coastal realms of South Asia.
“This fine ensemble,” he remarked, “sails through centuries of art, culture, and rich handloom traditions to relive our glorious seafaring heritage.” His words echoed like a tide returning to shore—reminding us that the threads of history are not merely woven, but lived, shared and passed on like stories carried by the wind.
In a confluence of craft and myth, Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route unveils a mesmerizing collaboration between two artistic forces—Gunjan Jain, whose mastery of Odisha Ikat breathes new life into handwoven traditions, and Suresh Muthukulam, Kerala’s celebrated muralist whose brush dances with ancient lore.
What began in 2022 along Kerala’s coast has since blossomed into a rich, layered narrative where the ocean becomes both muse and medium. Their works ripple across textiles, canvas, rice paper, and sculpted wood, conjuring mythical sea creatures and ancestral echoes. Each piece is a vessel—carrying stories stitched in thread and etched in pigment—sailing across centuries and shores to reconnect us with the rhythm of maritime memory.
“Gunjan Jain’s deep engagement with Odisha’s weaving traditions and Suresh Muthukulam’s openness to explore new mediums created an extraordinary dialogue. The theme of maritime voyages became the perfect anchor to bring together weave and painting,” remarked Curator Jaya Mani at the preview.
Conversations flowed like ancient trade winds, weaving together reflections on the seamless dialogue between mural and textile—each thread and brushstroke echoing centuries of coastal kinship.
As twilight bathed the Visual Arts Gallery in a warm, golden hush, the preview blossomed into a vibrant mosaic of minds and muses.
THE SPACE PULSED WITH CREATIVE ENERGY AS LUMINARIES LIKE RAJEEV SETHI, THE VISIONARY SCENOGRAPHER; TEXTILE REVIVALIST REMA KUMAR; ARTIST NEERJA PETER; AND CULTURAL PATRONS RUCHIKA CHANANA AND NEELAM SUBERWAL MINGLED WITH FELLOW CONNOISSEURS OF CRAFT AND HERITAGE.
Featuring evocative collaborations between textile virtuoso Gunjan Jain and mural maestro Suresh Muthukulam, the exhibition traced ancient maritime threads linking Kerala, Odisha, and Southeast Asia—through handloom, pigment and sculptural form. Each piece whispered stories of seafaring souls, coastal kinships, and the timeless rhythm of trade winds that once carried art across oceans.
