Thanks to Sukanya Shankar and the Ravi Shankar Foundation

MIM recently had the pleasure of hosting Sukanya Shankar of the Ravi Shankar Foundation when she visited the museum to dress a mannequin of her late husband, Ravi Shankar, for an upcoming display in the Artist Gallery. The outfit, on loan to MIM from the foundation, is the one that Maestro Shankar wore during the historic Concert for Bangladesh organized by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison and the Indian sitar master in 1971.

“Authenticity is important to us,” says Colin Pearson, MIM’s curator for Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. “Ravi-ji had a particular way of wearing his dhotī (traditional South Asian men’s garment) and it was important to have that done for the display exactly right by the person who knew it best.”

The mannequin was custom-made for Shankar’s outfit by MIM’s exhibit preparator team, and while Sukanya dressed it, she became emotional, reminiscing about her husband and the times she helped him dress before concerts.

In the weeks to come, Shankar’s outfit will be featured in a display honoring the maestro’s musical legacy in MIM’s Artist Gallery. The display will also showcase two sitars played by Shankar and other artifacts from the Concert for Bangladesh.

MIM is extraordinarily proud to be collaborating with the Ravi Shankar Foundation, as Shankar’s goal of introducing great music and musicians from around the world to new audiences so closely parallels the museum’s own mission.

 

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