In this episode, Aidan Young describes a vivid contemporary painting of the Wheel of Existence, a visual representation of Buddhist beliefs about life, death, and rebirth. Then Kaoru Watanabe shares a composition on the shinobue, taiko, and narimono called Chiru, exploring intention and the breath.

Artwork in this VideoArtwork in this Video

Ushnisavijaya and the Celebration of Old Age (Bhimaratha Ritual); Kathmandu, Nepal; Dated by inscription 1775; Copper; Technique: Repoussé; 17 1/2 × 11 1/8 × 3 5/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.63

Vajrasattva; Nepal; 14th century; Gilt copper alloy of multiple parts with traces of pigments; 17 1/8 × 14 × 10 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.10

Fourth Demo Rinpoche, Lhawang Gyeltsen (1631–1668); Tibet or China; Dated by inscription, 1667; Pigments on cloth; 101 x 64 x 3 1/4 in. (256.5 x 162.6 x 8.3 cm); Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.45.2

Brooklyn Raga Massive is an artist collective dedicated to creating cross-cultural understanding through the lens of Indian classical and raga inspired music. Praised by the Wall Street Journal for “expanding the notion of what raga—the immersive, epic form of Indian music—can mean” and dubbed the “leaders of the raga renaissance” by the New Yorker, the fun-loving members of the Brooklyn Raga Massive collective have made huge waves for “preserving the past while blurring genres in an inventive spirit” (New York Times). Brooklyn Raga Massive is dedicated to education, engaging in workshops, in-school programs, private teaching, and various community activities to share their love for music.

Aidan Young was formerly the assistant manager of digital engagement at the Rubin Museum.

Published May 3, 2020
Week 5The Rubin Daily Offering

Sign up for our emails

Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.

Discover artworks, articles, and more by typing a search term above, selecting a term below, or exploring common concepts in Himalayan art.