Mahaprahu Dasa, Director of MOSA, welcoming dignitaries and esteemed guests to the opening.

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.

Mahaprabhu Dasa, the Director of MOSA, has been in Madrid for a week to help set up the exhibit and participate in the opening of the exhibit on January 30, attend a talk by writer and researcher Sujata Prasad on January 31, and offer a co-guided tour of the exhibit with her on February 1. The show includes nearly 120 works from MOSA’s permanent collection which features 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 from over 40 artists.

“This show has been over two years in the making,” said Mahaprabhu Dasa, “As curator of the show I had to select over 120 works for the Museo de Antropología of Madrid and La Casa de la India in Valladolid. The pieces are from MOSA’s Collection “Living Traditions in Indian Art,” which has over 450 artworks. The challenge was to have as many traditions represented as the Museum space would allow. I am very satisfied with the outcome. The display and wall texts make the show very beautiful and easy to follow.”

Many dignitaries were present at the opening, including 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 show’s text curator.

The exhibit will run until April 20, 2025, in Madrid and May 18 in Valladolid. A wonderful 180-page catalogue is available at the Museum. Many groups and tourists visit the Museum daily. It is very close to the famous Museum el Prado. 

MOSA has 16 different exhibits available to present in museums across Europe and is finalizing an agreement with the Indian government to systematically present four to five exhibits a year in various cities around Europe.  “This would help MOSA fulfill one of its goals, which is to promote Indian Spiritual Art, be it traditional or contemporary,” noted Mahaprabhu Dasa. This year, MOSA will present “Shakti: Fair and Fierce” in its galleries at Radhadesh, Belgium, from May 24 until early January 2026. This exhibit was very successfully presented in Delhi and Mumbai. 

To learn more about MOSA and future upcoming exhibits or initiatives, visit their website.