New Delhi, September 11, 2025 – Art Magnum, in collaboration with the K.K. Hebbar Art Foundation, presents Silappadikaram: One of Five Tamil Epics – K.K. Hebbar Interprets the Classic, a solo exhibition that brings alive one of Tamil literature’s greatest epics through a contemporary artistic lens. Curated by Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, the exhibition opens on 21st September 2025 and will remain on view until 31st October 2025 at Art Magnum, New Delhi.
Silappadikaram, literally translated as One of Five Tamil Epics, is one of the five great Tamil epics, composed in the 2nd century CE by the Jain monk and Chera prince Ilango Adigal. A narrative of love, betrayal, justice, and transformation, it tells the story of Kannagi, who avenges the wrongful execution of her husband Kovalan by burning down the city of Madura, later to be deified as the goddess of chastity.
Through his evocative works, K.K. Hebbar reimagines this ancient tale for a contemporary audience. Working with layered textures, symbolic forms, and a palette that oscillates between restraint and intensity, Hebbar captures the epic’s emotional terrain – grief, rage, resilience, and transcendence. His canvases serve as both storytelling devices and meditative spaces, bridging the distance between history and the present moment. The opening evening will also witness the presence of Hebbar’s children – Rekha Hebbar Rao, Rajani Hebbar Prasanna, and Ranna Hebbar, who continue to nurture his artistic legacy through the K.K. Hebbar Art Foundation. The evening will further be enriched by The Song of the Anklet – verses from Silappadikaram presented by Padma Shri awardee Prathibha Prahlad along with Sridhar Vasudevan.
Curator Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya adds, “Hebbar’s work goes beyond narrative illustration; it creates an experiential engagement with the epic. The balance of silence and intensity in his canvases reflects the duality of the text itself, its moral undertones, its poetic grandeur, and its enduring relevance.”