Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Roberta’s Art Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Explore the preservation of India’s ancient manuscripts at Roberta’s Art Gallery with “The Aesthetic Shape of History,” an exhibit by Anthony Cerulli. Cerulli’s photographs, which will be on display through Dec. 11, demonstrate the power of the space in which physical archives are stored. He provides artistic value and insight into present history and culture through a significant mode of documentation and preservation.
“The Aesthetic Shape of History” is a selection of photographs that highlight Cerulli’s extensive photo-ethnographic art project, Manuscriptistan, which began in 2003. In 2015, Cerulli’s work in the field of South Asian Studies was recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, a prestigious award given to those with exceptional work in the arts. This educational exhibit will feature photographs of archival manuscripts and artifacts from three states in India including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala. Cerulli states, “I aim to highlight the value of bringing sensual, spatial, and artistic awareness and consideration to the things with which, and the spaces in which we conduct research.”
Anthony Cerulli is a professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Cerulli is also the director of the Center for South Asia and director of the Health and Humanities Program at UW-Madison.
An artist reception will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where Professor Nathan McGovern and Dr. Ashley Dimmig will join Cerulli for a panel discussion on the beauty and historical importance of this work. McGovern teaches in the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at UW-Whitewater, focusing on Asian philosophy and ancient India. Dimmig teaches in the Department of Art and Design and is the director of the Crossman Gallery at the Center of the Arts at UW-Whitewater. The reception will also include an audience Q&A and an open house with refreshments.
Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center at 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, Wis. The gallery collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community artists in coordinating and sponsoring exhibits. During the academic year, the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Roberta’s Art Gallery is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
At Roberta’s Art Gallery, we pride ourselves in providing free and open exhibits to the public, and attending certain events can earn students class credit. If you are interested in being featured in the gallery, please contact us for a proposal request. Reach us at ucart@uww.edu or 262-472-3193. Visit our website for any questions or inquiries and follow our Instagram at uww_rag.
