Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniature Painting and Britain, 1600 to Now

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023

Exhibitions

7 October 2023 - 28 January 2024

10am – 5pm

“Small wonders” The Guardian

“Many of the most exquisite contributions to this ambitious show can only be brought out of store once every ten years.” The Spectator

“This rare exhibition juxtaposes exquisite traditional miniatures from sacred and secular texts with modern and contemporary works they inspired, from sculpture to film and installation.” The Financial Times

“This is a beguiling, brilliant new art history – and one that almost tells as many stories as the miniature visions from which it continues to evolve.” RA Magazine

“A visual feast” Art Monthly

Beyond the Page explores how the traditions of South Asian miniature painting have been reclaimed and reinvented by modern and contemporary artists, taken forward beyond the pages of illuminated manuscripts to experimental forms that include installations, sculpture, and film.

The exhibition features work by artists from different generations working in dialogue with the miniature tradition, including Hamra Abbas, Zahoor ul Akhlaq, David Alesworth, Nandalal Bose, Noor Ali Chagani, Lubna Chowdhary, Adbur Rahman Chughtai, Olivia Fraser, Samuel Fyzee-Rahamin, Alexander Gorlizki, N.S. Harsha, Howard Hodgkin, Ali Kazim, Bhupen Khakhar, Matthew Krishanu, Jess MacNeil, Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Mohan Samant, Willem Schellinks, Raqib Shaw, Gulammohammed Sheikh, Nilima Sheikh, Arpita Singh, the Singh Twins, Shahzia Sikander, Abanindranath Tagore and Muhammad Zeeshan.

Contemporary works are shown alongside examples of miniature painting dating as far back as the 16th century drawn from major collections including The Royal Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum and The British Museum, many on public display for the first time.

Exhibition tours

From 27 October: Conversational Tours
Tuesdays and Fridays at 11am (booking required)

From 31 October: Exhibition Tours
Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2pm (no booking required)
Final exhibition tour: Sunday 28 January (no booking required)

Exhibition events

10 October Teacher’s Evening
15 October Relaxed Exhibition Viewing
20 October Asian Art in London Exhibition Tour
28 October Family Fun Day: Beyond the Page
9 November Curator’s Talk
18 November Festivals of Light with ROQ Raw radio
19 November Relaxed Exhibition Viewing
21 November Audio Described Exhibition Tour
25 November Toddle Exhibition Tour
25 November SEND Exhibition Tour
1 December MK Gallery Late
9 December BSL Artist-led Tour
17 December Relaxed Exhibition Viewing
6 January SEND Exhibition Tour
6 January Toddle Exhibition Tour
19 January Beyond the Page Conference
21 January Relaxed Exhibition Viewing


Beyond the Page is curated by Hammad Nasar and Anthony Spira with advice from Emily Hannam.

The exhibition is organised by MK Gallery in partnership with The Box, Plymouth.

We are grateful for generous support from The Bagri Foundation and The Australia Council

and the Circle of Friends, chaired by Tarana Sawhney.

The exhibition has been made possible as a result of the Government Indemnity Scheme. MK Gallery would like to thank HM Government for providing Government Indemnity and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England for arranging the indemnity.

Press Release