Nepal or Tibet
14th century
Nepal or Tibet
14th century
A kind of energy that can be used, individually and collectively, to effect change.
Hindu gods (deva) are thought to be manifestations of the absolute, or Brahman. The goddesses (devi) are considered manifestations of the Great Mother Goddess (Mahadevi), who is seen as the counterpart to Brahman.
Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.
The Himalayan kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley were significant centers of Buddhist culture. Nepalese kings, Buddhist institutions, and ordinary people patronized the vibrant art guilds. The artistic traditions of the regions are well-known in Tibetan areas and beyond, and Newar artists have always been in high demand throughout Tibetan regions and Inner Asia.
Rubin Museum
150 W. 17th St., NYC
Rubin Museum
150 W. 17th St., NYC
Monumental Lhasa: Fortress, Palace, Temple is the first exhibition of its kind to explore rare images of central Tibet’s most iconic monuments as they were seen by Tibetans and Westerners prior to the mid-20th century. The exhibition explores how image making relates to place making and how the production and transmission of images contributes to the iconic character, familiarity, and power of important landmarks.
By bringing objects from the Rubin Museum together with art from public and private collections across Europe and North America, this exhibition presents a distinct genre, encompassing paintings, photographs, drawings, and film. The exhibition revives one of the original functions of these images—to transmit the holy city of Lhasa to a remote audience. In Monumental Lhasa Rubin visitors are able to vicariously visit and experience the main architectural sites of Tibet through historical and contemporary eyes.
Natasha Kimmet is a former curatorial fellow at the Rubin Museum of Art. Natasha developed an interest in Asian art and architecture while pursuing her BA at Bates College, partly inspired by a study abroad experience in the Himalayas. After college, she worked at art galleries in New York and as a volunteer at the Rubin before moving to London to complete an MA in the History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation, Tulku Tsultrim Pelgyi, and by contributors to the 2016 Exhibitions Fund. Additional support is provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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