Nikolaevsky Hall

The permanent exhibition “Peoples of South Asia” (2024) presented in the Nikolaevsky Hall of the MAE (Kunstkamera) RAS is dedicated to the peoples of India (Bhārat), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The exhibition maintains continuity from the first permanent exhibition “India” (1925), but offers a greater variety of objects and contains information about the prominent collectors (Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, A. M. and L. A. Meerwarth, I. P. Minaev, A. A. Staël von Holstein, N. I. Vorobyov, M. S. Andreev, A. N. Krasnov, A. F. Jagor, C. P. Clark, etc.). The concept of the new exhibition “Peoples of South Asia” traces back to the first hall “India” (1925). The permanent exhibition retains some items that are favorite with visitors, but in most cases the items and illustrative materials presented have not been exhibited before. The new permanent exhibition presents in more detailed way religions of the Indian subcontinent, local crafts, both those that still exist and those that have become part of history: ancient weapons, clothing, jewelry, pottery, metal and wooden products, children’s toys. Today, certain handicrafts, especially textile artifacts, are regarded in India as the regional cultural heritage and are subjects to special attention and conservation. An important dominant feature of the permanent exhibition remains the carved portico of the palace terrace from Nasik, purchased by M. S. Andreev specially for the MAE RAS. Local theatrical traditions of South Asia are represented by the masks of Kolam theatre and the costumed characters of Kathakali theatre

Cultural heritage · Exhibition · South asia · Southeast asia · Textile · Indian and Buddhist Studies · Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nepal · South Asian Studies and Diaspora