Five Faces of Shiva

Five Faces of Shiva is a brief history of the rise of Hindu god lithographs. These images are intertwined with India's history, from the complicated backdrop of British colonization, which led to coded messages of rebellion hidden in the prints themselves, to rival presses outdoing one another to the point of ruin. The film also explains printmaking techniques and some of the mythological stories and symbolism shown in the prints. A contemporary artist explains how her work is influenced by the prints.