The Metaphors of Indian Arts and Other Essays

DETAILS : 

• Author : Kapila Vatsyayan
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ D.K. Print World Ltd
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 September 2015
  
• Edition ‏ : ‎ 2015th
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8124608202
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9788124608203
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1500 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Metaphors of Indian Arts and Other Essays is a seminal collection of writings by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, one of the most towering figures in Indian art history and aesthetics. This book is a deep dive into the "conceptual heart" of Indian creativity.

Vatsyayan’s central argument is that Indian architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, and music are not separate silos but are governed by a single, unified set of metaphysical principles. She explores how abstract concepts from the Vedas and Upanishads—like the relationship between the "center" and the "periphery"—manifest physically in the stone of a temple or the gesture of a dancer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan (1928–2020) was a legendary scholar, art historian, and administrator. She was the founding Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan.

A "Total" Scholar: Unlike historians who focus only on dates and dynasties, Vatsyayan used a multidisciplinary approach, combining her knowledge of Sanskrit literature, classical dance (she was a trained dancer), and philosophy.

The Visionary: She is credited with creating a new vocabulary for Indian art, moving it away from Western analytical models and grounding it in indigenous Indian thought.