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September 29, 2002 through January 12, 2003
[Members Exhibition Preview on Saturday, September 28 from 1-5pm]
Torso
of the Buddha, Thailand, 15-16th Century.
Bronze. Gift of Mr. Edward Nagel.
Visions of Enlightenment
explores the basic iconography and symbolism of this religious tradition,
using Buddhist imagery from throughout Asia. The paintings, sculptures,
textiles, and ritual objects in the exhibition are drawn in part
from the museum’s rich collection of Buddhist art, as well
as from several local private and museum collections.
In the Buddhist faith, the goal of the practitioner is to attain
spiritual enlightenment or spiritual perfection, thus freeing the
soul from an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The art
of Buddhism has long played an important role in assisting followers
in this pursuit. Sculptural and painted images of Buddhas, bodhisattvas,
and deities, in particular, have served to aid Buddhist practitioners
with meditation, prayer, and self improvement. Over the centuries,
the iconography of Buddhism has become increasingly elaborate as
Buddhism itself grew more complex and spread throughout the world.
The exhibition is organized into four sections dealing with four
aspects of Buddhist art.
The Perfected One: The Buddha
The Buddha was a prince who lived in northern India about 2,500
years ago. He gave up his life of luxury to seek a true understanding
about life and suffering. He achieved this understanding, or spiritual
enlightenment, and then spent the rest of his life spreading his
teachings throughout India. In the Buddhist faith, the Buddha is
not a god, but a being who has attained a state of spiritual perfection,
and images of the Buddha are a reminder that we all have the potential
to become Buddhas. The Buddha is usually depicted wearing the robes
of a monk and appears calm and free from the troubles of this world.
Compassionate Beings: The Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas are compassionate beings who are close to achieving
their own enlightenment, and thus Buddhahood, but postpone it in
order to help others attain enlightenment. Unlike the Buddha, who
has achieved release from this world, bodhisattvas remain in this
world and offer support to those seeking enlightenment. They are
usually depicted in graceful, animated poses and wear crowns and
jewelry to represent their continued presence in this world.
Upholders of the Buddhist Law: Guardians,
Deities and Holy Men The Buddhist pantheon also
includes various deities who protect the Buddhist teachings, or
Law, and holy men who spread these teachings. The section includes
guardian figures, often shown as fierce deities with grimacing faces
and wearing armor. Also included are several peaceful and wrathful
Buddhist deities. Wrathful deities, often depicted with fangs and
bulging eyes and carrying weapons, are not harmful to followers
but instead, protect them against jealousy, anger, and other destructive
forces that hinder progress towards enlightenment. Images of some
of the Buddhist holy men and teachers who helped to spread the Buddhist
faith throughout Asia are also featured.
Objects and Texts for Ritual and
Meditation Many objects, images, and texts are used
in the meditation, prayers and rituals of the various sects of Buddhism.
Some of these objects, such as the incense burners, prayer beads,
bells, and water vessels, are used throughout Asia in rituals. Others,
such as vajras, mandalas, and other images used for meditation and
visualization practices, are employed in the rituals of particular
sects. Also featured in the exhibition are two Buddhist altars,
one from Tibet, the other from Japan, to show how some of the objects
are employed by practitioners of Buddhism.
Yamantaka
Mandala, Eastern Tibet, c. 1700.
Ink and colors on silk. PAM Collection.
A selection of photographs of Buddhist life by Don Farber will
be on display in the Foyer to the Auditorium.
This exhibition has been generously underwritten by
- Raymond and Virginia Atchley
- David and Margaret Barry
- Paul and Georgianna Erskine
- Ralph and Angelyn Riffenburgh
- Wells Fargo
Related Workshops, Lectures, and Talks:
- Members' Exhibition Preview is on Saturday, September 28, from
1-5pm. Exhibition Curator, Meher McArthur will conduct special
members' tours at 2:30pm and 3:30pm.
- Sunday October 6, 1-4pm Workshop
Thai Traditional Painting Workshop focusing on Buddha Images
Thai traditional art depicts the Tosachat (Ten
Lives of the Buddha), Ramakien, and several other tales.
The study of Thai art is closely related to the Buddha. Participants
in this workshop will learn to paint with traditional Thai mural
painting and drawing techniques, using tempera on canvas. Vibul
Wonprasat of Pacific Asia Museum’s Thai Arts Council will instruct
this class. The fee for this event is $55 for members and $65
for non-members. For reservations, call 626.449.2742 ext. 31.
- Saturday October 26, 2-4pm Lecture
Sonya Quintanilla, Early Buddhist Art
from the Ganges to the Hindu Kush
The beginnings of Buddhist art in South Asia will be discussed
in this talk, with an emphasis on contrasting and contextualizing
the developments in the Gangetic plains of northern India with
those in the northwest frontier regions of present-day Pakistan
and Afghanistan. This event is free with museum admission.
- Saturday November 2, 2-4pm Lecture
The Buddha Image in Southeast
Asia
Robert L. Brown, Professor of Art History at UCLA. PAM Adjunct
Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art
The lecture will discuss the earliest Buddha images from
Southeast Asia (Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia)
and their relationships with those in India. The styles, uses,
and meanings of the Buddha image changed and shifted over time,
and later examples from Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia
will be used to illustrate these changes. The lecture will conclude
with a discussion of the famous Emerald Buddha that is today in
Bangkok. This event is free with museum admission.
Sponsored by Silk Roads Design Gallery.
- Saturday November 9, 2-4pm Lecture
Mantras, Mudras and Mandalas: Symbolism
in Himalayan Art
Deepak Shimkhada
The Buddhist art of the Himalayas is essentially symbolic in nature
and is rich with esoteric elements. To unlock its mysteries the
viewer must use semiotic codes. Since the Himalayan pieces featured
in the exhibition are primarily employed in the service of Buddhism,
they are religious in nature. Hence, they were produced in large
part either by monks who practiced it, or by the artists [who
were knowledgeable in Buddhist iconography]. The practitioners,
of course, understood the meaning and symbolism but the laypeople
did not. Deepak Shimkhada, assistant professor of art and religion
at Claremont, McKenna College is an expert in the subject of Himalayan
art and will unveil the mysteries of the mudras and mandalas as
seen in the Buddhist art of the Himalayas. The lecture will be
augmented with recorded music, slides and ritual objects used
in esoteric practices by the monks. Free with Museum admission.
Sponsored by Tom Grayson.
- Saturday November 16, 1-4pm Family Festival
Buddha: Faces of Enlightenment Festival
Join the Himalayan Arts Council for an afternoon devoted to the
arts and cultures of Tibet and Nepal. The event will begin with
a Moh-Puja ceremony. Following this will be performances by Tibetan
artists and a tour with artist, Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo of her exhibition,
Sacred Stitches. Visitors may also attend docent led
tours of the exhibition, Visions of Enlightenment and
view an exhibition of Nepali Life by Sharmila Mali. Ongoing children's
workshops include making personal thangkas, a crash-course
in Nepali handwriting, and traditional Nepali doll-making. Nepali
snacks will be available for sampling. Free.
- Sunday November 17, 2-4pm Authors on Asia
Don Farber, Visions of Buddhist
Life
Renowned photographer Don Farber will discuss his experiences
photographing Buddhist life in Tibet, Japan, India and other cultures.
A display of his photographs is currently showing in the museum’s
Foyer Gallery through January 12, 2003.
- Saturday November 23, 8:30am-5pm Local Tour
Buddhist Temple Bus Tour
Visitors are invited to attend a Buddhist Temple tour of temples
throughout Los Angeles with Pacific Asia Museum. Led by Meher
McArthur, curator of the exhibition, Visions of Enlightenment,
participants will enjoy Tibetan Buddhist chanting followed
by visits to Hsi-Lai Temple (Chinese Pure Land), Zenshuji Zen
Temple (Japanese Zen) and Wat Thai Temple (Thai Thervada). The
tour will focus on the different types of Buddhism practiced throughout
Asia. The fee for this event is $40 for members and $50 for non-members.
Breakfast and lunch included. For further information or reservations,
please call 626.449.2742 ext. 31.
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Books
will be available for purchase and signing. Authors on Asia
programs are presented free of charge but reservations are recommended.
For information and reservations, please call 626.449.2742 ext.
20.