Exhibition

Who, or what, am I?

Beneath the identities we carry, shaped by race, gender, age, culture, religion, and history, lie deeper questions of self and purpose. Song of the Soul explores these questions through the art and music of bhakti-yoga, the yoga of devotion and the heart.

Rooted in the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and the living practice of kirtan (devotional chanting and sacred song), the exhibition considers enduring questions of identity, consciousness, and our relationship with the divine. Bringing together the contemporary devotional paintings of Śyāmarānī Dāsī with photography, sound, and digital media, the exhibition traces more than sixty years of a global spiritual and artistic tradition that continues to evolve and flourish.

At the same time grounded in an ancient philosophical tradition and expressed through contemporary visual language, Song of the Soul invites visitors to encounter these ideas through painting, moving image, photography, and sacred sound.

Featured Works

At the heart of the exhibition is a selection of devotional paintings by Śyāmarānī Dāsī, including several works exhibited publicly for the first time. Rich in symbolism and narrative, the paintings translate philosophical concepts—including karma, dharma (life purpose), the nature of consciousness and the soul, and humanity’s relationship with the divine—into vivid visual form.

An immersive video installation explores the relationship between the individual soul and the Supersoul, bringing key paintings into motion through animation and digital media.

A photographic and audio series traces more than sixty years of the global kirtan movement, offering a glimpse into the communities, practitioners, artists, and living culture that have carried this tradition across generations and around the world.

Sacred Sound and Living Tradition

The transformative power of sacred sound is central to the exhibition. Within the tradition of Krishna consciousness, kirtan brings people together through the collective singing of the Holy Name as a shared practice of devotion, meditation, and connection. This emphasis resonates particularly within diasporic African and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, where rhythm, chant, and invocation serve as pathways to the Supreme. 

By placing these traditions in conversation, the exhibition highlights shared themes of memory, devotion, and the enduring human search for transcendence.

Curatorial Reflection

Curated by Ludlow E. Bailey and Manjari Dasi, Song of the Soul creates a dialogue between devotional art, contemporary culture, and spiritual inquiry.

In an age of fragmentation and disconnection, the exhibition reminds us that beneath the noise of the material world, there exists a sacred song—always present, always accessible, waiting to be heard.

May we listen deeply and discover how the sacred melody flows through us.