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Deepak Chopra Does Comics? See The Battle For Good And Evil At LACMA

Where: 5905 Wilshire Blvd. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90036
October 30, 2009 at 3:34 PM | by Heidi Atwal | 0 Comments

Spider-Man, Batman, and the X-Men are just a few of the superheroes who've earned a respected place in the comic book canon. Dedicated collectors know about mainstream bionic men and woman, and maybe a few underground characters as well, but a new exhibit at Los Angeles' LACMA introduces the public to the transportive world of Indian comics.

Being generally familiar with stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana, our interest in modern renderings of ancient gods and goddesses, and the interpretation of said stories, is what drew us to the exhibit. Heroes and Villains: The Battle for Good in India's Comics runs through February 7th of next year, and is a compact representation of cultural comic book art and well-preserved folios from hundreds of years ago.

It opens with a series of pages from Devi, a collaboration of self-help guru Deepak Chopra and Elizabeth director Shekhar Kapur, featuring a curvaceous heroine taking on dark forces—all familiar comic book tropes, peppered with references to stories that have long circulated in Indian culture. From there, we encountered elaborate ink and pencil renderings from popular modern artists, followed by amazingly detailed folios that linked the past and present artwork.

What you'll also see if you choose to visit are the Indian version of Spider-Man, and cameos that Hindu gods have made in Western comics, such as in the Wonder Woman series. Our time at the exhibit was enhanced by a helpful, talkative docent, who pointed us toward ancient sculptures of some of the same scenes we saw depicted in the comic books.

As a parting tip, if you are counting your precious pennies right now, be aware that after 5:00 PM you may pay what you wish to enter, and the parking garage is free after 7:00 PM. Crowds are significantly lighter during the evening hours, and if you luck out like us, you may end up getting extended personal attention as you make your way through the museum.

Related Stories
· Heroes and Villains: The Battle for Good in India's Comics [Official Site]
· Comic Book Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: LACMA]

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