India has one of the finest traditions of painting of the world, coming from ancient times. This early tradition is not generally known, as many of...
Author - Benoy K Behl
Benoy K Behl is a film-maker, art-historian and photographer who is known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past 44 years. He has taken over 53,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage and made 145 documentaries which are regularly screened at major cultural institutions worldwide. His photographic exhibitions have been warmly received in 74 countries around the world. These have been inaugurated by ministers of the governments of various countries, ambassadors, archbishops and others dignitaries. He holds the Limca Book Record for being the most travelled photographer and art historian.
His films, including 26 documentaries on ‘The Paintings of India’, 26 documentaries on ‘The Sculpture of India’ and 26 documentaries on ‘Spectacular India’ have been nationally telecast on prime time in India, as well as repeat telecasts. These have also been screened at scores of universities and museums in several countries around the world.
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi screens one film of Behl every month; the National TV channel DD Bharti has been showing a film of his every day since 2001; India International Centre, New Delhi held two Festivals of Behl’s films, in 2009 and in 2019.
In January, 2008, National Geographic magazine carried an 18-page story about ancient Indian art revealed through Behl’s photography to the world. He is the first Indian about whose work National Geographic magazine have carried a story. BBC World News have also carried 3 major stories about Behl’s pioneering work in India and Vietnam.
The vastness of Behl’s documentation presents a wide and new perspective in understanding the art of India and Asia. His photography of ancient murals in remote places has clearly established the continuous tradition of painting in India, from ancient times through the medieval period. This is significant, as earlier, the Indian tradition of painting was believed to begin in medieval times.
Behl’s recent work on Yoga has made a notable contribution to the knowledge of the subject. On all the International Days of Yoga, from 2015 to 2020, his exhibitions on yoga were held across the world. His films on Yoga were also shown in Indian Embassies and High Commissions around the world and he has been invited to lecture on Yoga in many countries.
Behl’s films, including on ‘Indian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism’ and ‘Indian Deities Worshipped in Japan’ have won several awards at international film festivals.
Behl has been invited to lecture by many of the important universities and museums around the world, who have departments of Asian art. His book on ‘The Ajanta Caves’ is published by Thames & Hudson, London and Harry N. Abrams, New York. His recent books include ‘THE ART OF INDIA, Sculpture and Mural Painting’ in two volumes; ‘Buddhism: The Path of Compassion’ on the Buddhist heritage of the world, ‘Hindu Deities Worshipped in Japan’; ‘Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh’; Northern Frontiers of Buddhism’ and ‘Buddhist Heritage of Sri Lanka’.
Benoy K Behl - Info@ajantahc.com