Indian Art Comes to Life in Madrid: MOSA’s ‘Mystic Paths’ Opens at Museo de Antropología

Indian Art Comes to Life in Madrid: MOSA’s ‘Mystic Paths’ Opens at Museo de Antropología





On January 30, 2025, the Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA) opened a new exhibit entitled “Mystic Paths: Living Traditions of Indian Art from MOSA” at the Museo de Antropología of Madrid in Spain’s capital. Over 150 special guests, including many professors, intellectuals, and artists from the area, attended the opening.

MOSA is an international visual arts initiative dedicated to supporting art and artists from India and the ISKCON community. It has branches in Belgium, Italy, and Spain. The Museo de Antropología of Madrid is dedicated to showcasing the cultural diversity of human societies through ethnographic artifacts from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Established in 1875, it is considered to be the oldest of its kind in the country.


From left to Right: President of Casa de la India Antonio Largo Cabrerizok, Sujata Prasad, Wife of the Indian Ambassador, Ambassador of India in Spain Dinesh Patnaik, Mahaprabhu dasa Director of MOSA, Yadunandana Swami, Director of the National Museum of Spain Mercedes Roldán Sánchez, Director of the Museo Fernando Sáez Lara

Mahaprabhu Das, the Director of MOSA, has been in Madrid with for a week to help ser up the exhibit and participate in the Opening of the Exhibit on the 30th of January , a Talk by Writer and Researcher Sujata Prasad on 31st and a combined Guided Tour of the Exhibit with Sujata Prasad on February 1st . There are nearly 120 works from MOSA’s permanent collection which feature both the ancient stories and mystical texts of India. According to Sujata Prasad, guests will “encounter the diverse historical periods and cultural contexts shaping 4,000 years or more of unbroken artistic traditions here. Artists who have learned to blend traditional forms with modern aesthetics are carrying these traditions forward. They adapt tradition to contemporary contexts while retaining much of its symbolic mystical kernel.” The collection includes paintings, sculptures, and embroideries (other mediums?) from over 40 artists.


Mahaprabhu dasa and Sujata Prasad starting a preview visit of the show for the Dignataries.

This show has been over 2 years in the making. As curator of the show I had to select a bit over 120 works for the Museo de Antropología of Madrid and La Casa de la India in Valladolid from MOSA’s Collection Living Traditions in Indian Art of over 450 artworks. The Challenge was to have as many traditions represented as the Museum space allows. I am very satisfied with the outcome . The display and wall texts make the show very beautiful and easy to follow. — Mahaprabhu Dasa, Curator of Mystic Paths


For the Opening there were several dignataries: The Ambassador of India Dinesh Patnaik, the Director of the National Museums of Spain , the Director of the Museo de Antropología of Madrid, the President of Casa de la India in Valladolid and Sujata Prasad the text curator of the show.


Mahaprabhu dasa explaining something about the collection to the Director of the National Museums of Spain and the Director of the Museum.

The exhibit will run until April 20, 2025, in Madrid and May 18 in Valladolid. There is a wonderful 180 page catalogue which is available at the Museun. Many groups come daily to visit the Museum as well as Tourists. It is very close to the famous Museum el Prado.


MOSA has 16 different Exhibits available to present in Museums across Europe and is trying to finalize anAgreement with the Indian Government to systematically present 4 or 5 exhibits a year in different cities around Europe. This would help MOSA fullfill one of its goals which is to promote Indian Spiritual Art . Be it traditional or contemporary. This year MOSA will present Shakti: Fair and Fierce in its Galleries in Radhadesh Belgium from 24th May until early January 2026. This exhort was very successfully presented in Delhi and Mumbai. — Mahaprabhu Dasa, Curator of Mystic Paths


Sujata Prasad explaining the Ratha Yatra Festival to a group of visitors.

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