Colors of the Season: The Turbans of “Peacock in the Desert” August 1, 2018
A display of Rajasthani turbans in Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India brings the exhibition to life with color.
Bert Harris, Portrait of Maharaja Sardar Singh, 1896, oil on canvas, Umaid Bhawan Palace. Neil Greentree, photographer.
Bert Harris, Portrait of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, Jodhpur, 1895, oil on canvas, Umaid Bhawan Palace. Neil Greentree, photographer.
A centuries-spanning survey of art and objects from a desert kingdom, Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India is filled with vibrant colors—though perhaps none as meaningful as the hues of the turbans displayed near the exhibition’s entrance.
The paag (turban) is a symbol of identity, pride, and valor in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Each turban on view was wrapped differently according to where the wearer was from, with colors and patterns that denote seasons, rituals and ceremonies, and moods. For example, yellow is the color of spring and happiness. Leheriya, the wave pattern on the unfurled turban cloths that hang vertically behind the turbans, represents rain and is worn in the rainy season.
Turbans have a long, significant history in Jodhpur! Hit “play” to learn more from Karni Singh Jasol, co-curator of “Peacock in the Desert.”
“Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India” is on view in the Law Building through August 19. Info and tickets
