It’s that time of the year again, folks. Heads are aching from constant essay-writing, eyes are straining from late nights spent studying, and few of us have the stamina to drag ourselves to class, let alone head out to local arts events and attractions.

Nevertheless, I’m writing this to you, the over-worked reader, in hopes of changing your mind about the latter: to get your curiosity flowing, to fire the artsy half of your brain up after a long winter of creative hibernation, and to give you a peek into the AGO’s newest (and definitely most vibrant) exhibition, entitled “Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts”.

Being one of the over-worked students mentioned above, I’m entitling this entry a “Lazy-ish Review”, as I don’t have the time (or nearly enough artistic prowess) to write elaborate insights on the significance of each piece in the exhibition, and you certainly don’t have the time to read them. So here’s what you do need to know:

First of all, the exhibition is completely FREE for full-time students under 25 years of age; just bring your TCard (or a card with a more flattering picture of you if you prefer). Even if you aren’t a visual arts guru, finding anything to do in Toronto without spending away your life savings is rare, so seize the chance for some free entertainment, and you never know what you’ll end up taking away from the experience.

The exhibition boasts a wide collection of paintings, jewellery, clothing, and even furniture spanning from the 1700s to the mid-1900s. One is immediately drawn in by the vivid colours and intricate patterns of the artwork, with dazzling greens and pinks that are a far cry from the dark, rich European art that most of us are used to observing in galleries. The paintings envelop you in a world that embraces both the secular and the sacred, the old and the new, the sombre and even the erotic (some added intrigue for you), and speak of a culture that remains vibrant, strong, and adaptive to change, despite the British influence that is often front-and-centre in the pieces from the 1800s.

If you’re a fan of art, a fan of South Asian art, or simply a fan of free anything, throw those dull notes aside for just an hour or two, guzzle down your choice of super-caffeinated beverage, and get immersed in the lively and always-intriguing culture that India has to offer. You might just find that during this exhausting time, the energy is contagious.

The A.G.O.’s Maharaja Exhibition runs until April 3, 2011

This entry was posted on Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Arts, Events, Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.