Nalini Sharma, an art patron and honorary member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Board of Advisors, discusses the museum's exhibition "Divine Color: Hindu Prints from Modern Bengal" in an exclusive video interview. The show, supported by Nalini and Raj Sharma, features nearly 40 vibrant lithographs and over 100 objects including prints, paintings, sculptures, and textiles, exploring Hindu devotional prints from 19th-century Calcutta (now Kolkata). It is the first U.S. exhibition devoted to these works, which were mass-produced using lithographic technology and deeply embedded in daily life across India and the diaspora.
The exhibition matters because it brings global attention to an often-overlooked form of Indian artistic and spiritual expression, revealing how devotional imagery shaped popular culture during periods of social and political transformation. By showcasing rare surviving lithographs—only a limited number remain—the MFA highlights the intersection of sacred tradition, modern mass media, and cultural identity. The show also underscores the role of patrons like Sharma in preserving heritage and fostering cross-generational and cross-cultural dialogue through the arts.