The Rubin Publishes Himalayan Art in 108 Objects

Today the Rubin releases its newest publication, Himalayan Art in 108 Objects, the first introductory book about the story of Himalayan, Tibetan, and Inner Asian art and cultures from the Neolithic era to today. The publication is the third and final component of Project Himalayan Art, a first-of-its-kind resource that launched earlier this year for learning and teaching about Himalayan art. Its integrated components include a digital platform, the traveling exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art, and the publication, which is now available to purchase. The project’s focus is on cross-cultural exchange with Tibet at the center and Buddhism as the thread that connects the diverse Himalayan, Tibetan, and Inner Asian cultures. The exhibition travels next to the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College, where it opens September 5.

Himalayan Art in 108 Objects takes a cross-disciplinary, object-centered approach and features 108 essays from 72 international scholars who trace the art and material cultures of Tibetan, Himalayan, and Inner Asian regions. Edited by Rubin Museum Senior Curators Karl Debreczeny and Elena Pakhoutova and published in association with Scala Arts Publishers, Himalayan Art in 108 Objects explores sites and objects in-situ, paintings, sculptures, drawings, textiles, architectural monuments, and holdings from international institutions, as well as objects from the Rubin Museum’s collection. The 108 essays are set alongside extensive photographs and serve as a guide to the historical traditions, rituals, social practices, and art forms of these rich and diverse regions.

“The number 108 is considered sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions; there are 108 prayer beads, 108 volumes of the Buddhist canon, and so forth. We aimed to continue in this tradition by presenting 108 objects as entry points to the world of Himalayan art,” says Debreczeny and Pakhoutova. “We hope that the publication, along with the digital platform and traveling exhibition, will help expand access to this new and developing field, and become meaningful resources to students, educators, and art lovers.”

Read the full story in the press release