[BCMA] MOA Opens Buddhist Art Exhibit May 10

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Visions of Enlightenment: Buddhist Art at MOA

[cid:image001.jpg at 01CD22DC.C5BDEB40]

Opening Reception
UBC Museum of Anthropology
Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7 pm

Exhibition on view through September 30, 2012
As Buddhism spread across Asia, symbols and sacred images developed to represent the Buddha and illuminate his teachings. These images offer the devotee and viewer both consistency in the forms of Buddhist art, and a vast array of subtle and obvious differences. The latter illuminate the variety of rituals, religious texts, and beliefs generated over time, culture, and geography. They offer a window into Buddhist philosophy, aesthetics and values, combining beauty and meaning.
Works of art in this exhibition focus on basic Buddhist concepts and images, and reflect the purpose of Buddhist art: why it is made, who made it, for whom, and how it is used; for example, in teaching, facilitating meditation, gaining merit, and for devotional purposes. The content reflects the Three Treasures of Buddhism, that is the Buddha, the Dharma (Teaching), and the Sangha (Community). Also described is the role of the bodhisattva and expressions of Buddhist practice, such as obtaining merit and devotion. The exhibit decodes the meaning of representations in Buddhist art, such as hand gestures and the attributes associated with various images, through a range of media, including sculptures made of stone, metal or lacquered wood; paintings; ceramics; manuscripts; and textiles. These are drawn from MOA's Asian collection, as well as from private lenders in British Columbia and from the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Visions of Enlightenment shows examples of Buddhist art from the main Buddhist traditions: the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. In Vancouver, the latter traditions are well represented in the established Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Tibetan communities. The Theravada school represents the traditions of the Burmese, Thai and other Southeast Asian communities.
The exhibition is guest curated by Paula Swart, who has been associated with the Museum of Anthropology as Adjunct Curator (Asia) since 2009. She teaches in the University of Victoria Continuing Studies Department, and has lectured on National Geographic Society expeditions to Asia. Additional curatorial advice is provided by Margo Palmer, current Director of the Canadian Society for Asian Arts, which promotes the arts and cultures of Asia through lectures, cultural events, exhibits, and educational programs. MOA Liaison curator is Dr. Carol E. Mayer, Curator Africa/Oceania. MOA Designer is Skooker Broome.
Visions of Enlightenment is organized by MOA, and supported in part by the Canadian Society of Asian Arts, Bank of Montreal, and Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation. Media Sponsor is the Georgia Straight. Image: The Buddha Sakyamuni as an Ascetic, China, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Lacquered wood. MOA 1259.1. Walter C. Koerner Collection.



Contact: Jennifer Webb  Communications Manager
jennifer.webb at ubc.ca<mailto:jennifer.webb at ubc.ca> T 604.822.5950 | F 604.822.2974

UBC Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2
www.moa.ubc.ca<http://www.moa.ubc.ca/>

[Description: Description: Description: Description: MOA logo_SHARP]


[Description: Description: cid:image003.jpg at 01CD221D.B852EA10]

 [Description: Description: cid:image004.jpg at 01CD221D.B852EA10]

[Description: Description: cid:image005.jpg at 01CD221D.B852EA10]

[Description: Description: cid:image006.jpg at 01CD221D.B852EA10]



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 7944 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3078 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment-0001.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2154 bytes
Desc: image003.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment-0002.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3162 bytes
Desc: image004.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment-0003.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2154 bytes
Desc: image005.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment-0004.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2892 bytes
Desc: image006.jpg
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20120425/cdb0eb18/attachment-0005.jpg