Bio Team Visits New York Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Below are photos of Buddha statues, thangkas and artefacts permanently exhibited on 5th Avenue, New York!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibits about 2 million works of art on their 2 floors (+ ground floor), where the 2nd floor exhibits mostly Asian-related art. There is a section dedicated to Buddhist items divided by countries e.g. Buddhist items from China, India, Nepal etc.
Most of the items date back to the 5th Century…about 1,500 years ago! It is actually quite amazing how big the section dedicated to only Buddhist items is. Located on Upper Manhattan, most of the items are donated by kind sponsors and funds.
Apart from their extensive and valuable works of art exhibited, the Metropolitan Museum is known for their impressive interior design and their original and imaginative way in how they display their art pieces. They have libraries in the style of Japanese tea rooms…an entire Chinese courtyard in the museum….whole ceiling pieces from temples installed into their own. They even host monthly events to showcase different art pieces in different styles and from different time periods.
It so happened that when the bio team went to New York, that they were exhibiting “Rugs and Ritual in Tibetan Buddhism”. They displayed 30 pieces dedicated to the enactment of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.
There are many families that visit, and within certain “allowed zones” there are students who come in as school trips and draw/sketch Buddha statues.
In the hustle and bustle of New York, a building like The Metropolitan Museum is a great place for visitors to step out of the fast-pace life to absorb and expand their knowledge on many different cultures and their vast history. Although many pieces are admired for their skill and artistic mastery, the Buddhist section has both artistic and religious value.
Tsem Tulku
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank you for posting this! The statues are exquisite exquisite works of art! So beautiful and breathtaking…definitely inspirational! Makes one want to go there!
I love visiting museums and galleries…and will put this on my must go wish list! I am reminded to visit and explore their website and their shops which sells very good reproduction of works of art, accompanied by a brief history of them which is very educational.
On another note…I had a chance to visit a travelling ‘live art” in Singapore with my nephew and friends which features a talking Mono Lisa, plus many interactive multi media visuals, some in 3 D (and yes we have to wear 3 D glasses which adds to the excitement and all! ) with the sculptures, subjects walking and talking and teaching about art techniques, etc..
The presentation and mechanics of the walk through art history ( features the great artists, their works and different periods) from the stone age to the renaissance to modern art is so cleverly done very educational and fun for children of all ages, families and adults that it creates not just awareness and understanding but the interest to learn more…
Wouldn’t it be great for us to have a section on Buddhism done up in a modern way, say where the images in a Thangka come alive and tell us the story? Or where the symbolism is explained on an interactive visual? Or a mandala projected from 2D rendering to a 3D on screen?
Wow – that really sets the mind racing on possibilities!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (Manhattan) has many Buddhist Artifats and Statues dating back 1,500 years ago in the 5th Century, from China, India, Nepal etc. The only Tibetan Vajrayana items that were put on display at the Museum were 30 pieces of Rugs and Ritual items. It is lucky that the statues and items are sponsored and funded. The Bio Team are also lucky to visit this Museum in New York. I don’t think the Museum in Malaysia is as big and interesting as in New York which displays items from all over the world. Since there are no Tibetan exhibits in the New York Museum. Maybe Kechara can start one in New York. Its just a thought.
Thank you Rinpoche for posting this. Thank you to the Bio team too. I esp like the Medicine Buddha photo shot – the information is clear, descriptive and shows the care and professionalism done by the MET team. I believe the MET is the only museum in the world that has such a large area dedicated to Buddhist arts. It would be great if we could start something similiar in the new Kechara Care extension and our new Gompa for all Kecharians and visitors to understand more on iconography, symobolism of our statues and thangkas collection.
Such beauty and grace exuding from the Buddharupas! Just looking at them gives one a sense of great peace – how could some people(who erroneously think that is ‘idolatry’) even have the heart to destroy such beauty? Even then, may they make connections with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!