Written on the WindThe Flag Project

In celebration of the opening of the Rubin Museum in 2004, more than 120 modern versions of traditional Tibetan prayer flags were created by contemporary artists from around the world. Prayer flags, dar cho in Tibetan, are a means of spreading good fortune to all beings and have been a part of Himalayan cultures for thousands of years, dating back to the pre-Buddhist Bon tradition. It is said that the wind that touches the flags carries the beneficial power of the prayers and blesses any beings it meets. This project established a dialogue between the Rubin’s mission—to protect and promote awareness of Himalayan cultures—and the vibrant voices within the contemporary art world. This exhibition features a selection of visual works that, as flags, fluttered across the facade at the opening of the Museum and represented the intersection of contemporary vision and traditional form.