Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara with Eleven Heads
Tibet, c. 1500
Gilt bronze with copper, gold and silver inlay and pigment
17 x 8-1/4 x 3-5/8 in. (43.2 x 21 x 9.2 cm)
The Norton Simon Foundation
Buddhist Art of the Himalayas at Norton Simon Museum ‘In the Land of Snow: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas’ – The Norton Simon Museum presents its first large-scale exhibition of Himalayan Buddhist art. March 28 – August 25, 2014.]]>
Source: Norton Simon Museum
“In the Land of Snow: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas” brings together exceptional Buddhist sculpture and thangka paintings from India, Nepal and Tibet. Comprising nearly 40 works of art, mostly from the Museum’s collection but with several key loans, and spanning 1,300 years, the exhibition demonstrates the rich artistic history of the region. A highlight is the display of a monumental thangka, measuring over 20 feet in height, depicting the Buddha of the Future, Maitreya, flanked by the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso, and his tutor, Yongtsin Yeshe Gyaltsen. Constructed of appliqued silk and presented on an elaborate mounting, the thangka was commissioned by the Eighth Dalai Lama for the benefit of his tutor and for the posterity of the Buddhist faith. This is only the second time that this extraordinary painting has been on view at the Museum.
Through the examination of iconic sculptures of the Buddha and of Buddhist deities, “In the Land of Snow” explores many facets of Himalayan art, such as the transmission of Vajrayana Buddhism from its place of origin in India to its eventual sites of practice in Nepal and Tibet. Although it is not known when Vajrayana Buddhism first developed, by the seventh century it had become firmly established in India and was taught in the major Buddhist centers and universities. Monks from Nepal and Tibet, drawn to the “diamond vehicle” with its promise of enlightenment within a single lifetime, traveled to Buddhist universities in eastern India, such as Nalanda. These scholar monks returned home in order to share their new knowledge, which is reflected in the development of Buddhist arts outside of India.
“In the Land of Snow” is organized by Assistant Curator Melody Rod-ari. The exhibition is on view from March 28 through Aug. 25, 2014. A series of public programs has been organized in conjunction with the exhibition.
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