For the first time ever, Caravaggio’s iconic 17th-century masterpiece Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy will be showcased in Bengaluru. The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) will host the exhibition from June 14 to July 6, following its earlier display at the Kiran Nadar Museum in Delhi.
This announcement was part of the 79th Italian Republic Day celebrations held on Sunday, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru. The event not only celebrated the nation’s legacy but also highlighted deepening Indo-Italian relations, especially over the past four years.
Italian Consul General Alfonso Tagliaferri, addressing the gathering, unveiled several initiatives:
- A collaboration with Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT and BT to establish an Italian Innovation Hub for startup growth and academic partnerships.
- A new cultural project spotlighting historical links between South India and Italy, tracing roots back to Venetian traveller Niccolò de’ Conti and Marco Polo.
A documentary on these historic ties will premiere on June 23, with plans for in-flight screenings on Italy-India routes.
This occasion also marks the farewell celebration for Tagliaferri, who concludes his tenure in Bengaluru on July 15. He acknowledged rising visa demand and a shortfall in staff, saying, “Italy’s popularity is outpacing our capacity.”
The evening featured stirring flute performances of both national anthems by Varijashree Venugopal and the Gokulam Flute Ensemble, blending cultures in harmony.
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