Architectural landmarks act as anchors for the identity of a place as well as focal points for associated stories and memories. Much like the Eiffel Tower is the pervasive symbol of France and the Statue of Liberty represents New York City, beginning in the 17th century, key Tibetan monuments became powerful visual icons of Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet.
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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