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Fractured Geometry: Lasting Legacies of Colonialism through the Displacement of Hindu Temples

  • Duration:Temporary
  • Location:Whitten Featured Object Case

(date) 3/24/2025–7/31/2025

This exhibit by Registration Assistant Illakkia Ranjani (class of 2025) explores the religious symbolism behind Hindu temple architecture. Hindu temples appear to follow the principles of fractal geometry, which emphasizes the symmetric repetition of shapes in varying scales. This form communicates central themes of Hinduism, such as the cyclicality and harmony of the universe. When pieces of Hindu temples and chariots are displaced through the forces of colonialism, the symbolic and architectural harmony of these structures are broken. This exhibit highlights how colonialism has eroded the meanings, purposes and identities of six architectural fragments in Spurlock’s collection–reducing them to artifacts of fractured geometry.

closeup of a wooden carving including abstact decorative details and a bird motif