Take a Closer Look at Himalayan Art

Many objects in the Rubin’s collection of Himalayan art are intricate and contain multiple layers of history and specialized iconography. For those unfamiliar, an introduction to these concepts can help unlock the deeper meanings within the artworks.

As part of its transformation into a global museum, which includes an emphasis on creating accessible learning opportunities, the institution has teamed up with Smarthistory to bring audiences an “up-close” look at objects from the collection through the series Himalayan Art Up Close. Smarthistory is an award-winning, free online platform dedicated to the study of art history and the most-visited art history resource in the world. 

The video series features close looking at art and conversations with Rubin senior curators Elena Pakhoutova and Karl Debreczeny and Smarthistory’s Beth Harris and Steven Zucker, presenting an introduction to the living traditions and art-making practices of the greater Himalayan region from the past to today. Many of the highlighted objects are also featured in the Rubin’s traveling exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art, offering an integrated way to experience the collection.

The series was recently expanded to 15 episodes. From lost-wax metal sculptures and thangkas to entire installations, among the newly featured works are a sculpture of Green Tara, one of the most popular deities in Tibetan Buddhism; the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, which displays multiple art and ritual objects as they would in a private household shrine; and Muted Expressions, a response to the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal by contemporary artist Tsherin Sherpa. More videos will continue to be released, providing even more pathways to better understand Himalayan art.

Watch the series