In the final week of The Rubin Daily Offering, artists with ties to the Himalayan region share creative practices that inspire their work, inviting us to think creatively and collaboratively.
In this episode, Rubin Museum Executive Director Jorrit Britschgi tells the story of the yogi and poet Milarepa. His dark past and transformation highlight our ability to change and grow, despite tumultuous beginnings.
Grammy-nominated Nepalese musician Manose then improvises a piece on the bamboo flute inspired by Milarepa. He asks us to not only listen to our environments in new ways but also to resonate with the silence.
Tsherin Sherpa; Untitled; 2010; Gouache, acrylic and gold leaf on museum board; 37 1/8 × 30 1/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; SC2010.31
Sketchbook page, Naga Mandala; Nepal; 18th century; Ink on paper; 11 1/8 × 11 1/4 × 1/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2003.10.1
Three Mahasiddhas, Kamala, Suvarnadvipa, Viraya; Tibet; ca. 17th century; Pigments on cloth; 61 7/8 × 32 3/8 × 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2004.14.2
Jorrit Britschgi has served as the Rubin Museum’s Executive Director since 2017. Before joining the Rubin, he served as Head of Exhibitions and Publications at the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland, where he was manager of the exhibitions program and curated numerous exhibitions. Mr. Britschgi also served as publisher of Artibus Asiae, one of the leading scholarly journals in Asian art and archaeology, for over a decade.
Jorrit Britschgi graduated from Zurich University with an MA in art history and Sinology (2005) and a PhD, with highest honors, in East Asian Art History (2009). Besides his research activities, he’s taken part in archaeological excavations in Eastern China and Bhutan, and curated numerous exhibitions on paintings from the Indian Himalayan region. Mr. Britschgi has received grants from federal and private foundations to pursue his studies and research. He is a 2017 alumni of the Getty Leadership Institute, and shares his expertise in an advisory capacity with other museums and individuals.
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