Iam one of those fortunate individuals whose intellectual passion and professional career have aligned and been devoted to the same pursuit—an exploration of the artistic heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
In the course of my career, I have combined research with teaching and exhibition-related activities around the world. Extensive field travel in South Asia, with opportunities to study remote and inaccessible sites of importance, has given me first-hand familiarity with the art of the region.
My background in classical Sanskrit and Tamil and knowledge of several modern Indian languages has proved invaluable to my work. My writings incorporate translations of ancient poetry and material from unpublished manuscripts to more fully illuminate an artistic milieu.
Over the years, my research has ranged from Buddhist art of the early centuries BCE to the esoteric temples of North India, and from the sacred bronzes of South India to art under the British Raj. Sometimes the materials employed by artists and craftsmen—stone, metals, photography(etc)—have sparked an enquiry, and I am grateful to have been able to collaborate with experts in a wide range of projects.
I have also had the opportunity to indulge my love of objects through eight years as a museum professional. Management and curatorial experience at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries provided a broad mandate to convey the excitement of the field of South Asian art to non-specialist audiences.
Over the course of my career, I have published 27 books and over 35 scholarly articles, and I continue to indulge my enthusiasm for research and writing.
