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Project Himalayan Art

Publication, Traveling Exhibition, and Digital Platform

“In comparison to other Asian art disciplines—Chinese, Japanese, and Indian art—the study of Himalayan art is a young and developing field.”

—Elena Pakhoutova, Arts of Asia


VISIT DIGITAL PLATFORM

Project Himalayan Art is an interdisciplinary resource for learning about Himalayan, Tibetan, and Inner Asian art and cultures. This three part-initiative—encompassing a digital platform, publication, and traveling exhibition—is designed to support the inclusion of these cultures into undergraduate teaching on Asia. The project focuses on cross-cultural exchange with Tibet at the center and Buddhism as the thread that connects the diverse cultural regions.


INTRODUCING PROJECT HIMALAYAN ART


Publication

Himalayan Art in 108 Objects is an object-centered introduction to Himalayan art and material culture from Neolithic to contemporary times, focusing on cross-cultural exchange with Tibet at the center and Buddhism as the thread that connects these diverse cultural regions. Buy the book.


Digital Platform

The digital platform features 108 object-focused essays, introductions to key themes, content from the traveling exhibition, and an interactive map. A wealth of supporting multimedia resources—including audio, video, and over one thousand images—provide context to the living ritual, cultural, and art-making practices and traditions of the Himalayas. Visit the digital platform.


Traveling Exhibition

Gateway to Himalayan Art introduces the main forms, concepts, meanings, and religious traditions of Himalayan art with objects from the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art, New York. A large multimedia map at the start of the exhibition orients viewers to the greater Himalayan region, which encompasses Indian, Nepalese, Bhutanese, and Tibetan cultures as well as interrelated Mongolian and Chinese traditions. Gateway invites exploration of these diverse cultural spheres through exemplary objects presented in three thematic sections: Symbols and Meanings, Materials and Technologies, and Living Practices. Explore the exhibition.


Gateway to Himalayan Art is currently scheduled to travel from 2023 to 2026. View the full exhibition schedule.


Contact us if you are interested in bringing this exhibition to your university museum.



Our supporter list is in formation, and we are most grateful for our visionary supporters to date:

Leadership support for Project Himalayan Art is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.

Project Himalayan Art has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-253379-OMS-23.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Lead support is provided by the Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation, Bob and Lois Baylis, Barbara Bowman, the E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Noah P. Dorsky, Fred Eychaner, Christopher J. Fussner, the Estate of Lisina M. Hoch, Matt and Ann Nimetz, The Randleigh Foundation Trust, Shelley and Donald Rubin, and Jesse Smith and Annice Kenan.

Major support is provided by Daphne Hoch Cunningham and John Cunningham, Stephen and Sharon Davies, the Edward & Elizabeth Gardner Foundation, Mimi Gardner Gates, Hongwei Li, the Monimos Foundation, Ed O’Neill, The Prospect Hill Foundation, Sarah and Craig Richardson, Rossi & Rossi, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Namita and Arun Saraf, Eric and Alexandra Schoenberg, Eileen Caulfield Schwab, UOVO, Sandy Song Yan, and the Zhiguan Museum of Art.

Special Support is provided by:

Dr. Bibhakar Sunder Shakya, to honor the memory and legacy of Professor Dina Bangdel, art historian, curator, cultural activist, and educator from Nepal.

Samphe and Tenzin Lhalungpa, to honor the memory and works of L.P. Lhalungpa, Tibetan scholar, broadcaster, and educator.


NEH
Prospect Hill Foundation
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.


Image Credit:
Mountain God Kula Khari; Tibet; 19th century; Terracotta and pigments; H 9 7/8 x W 8 1/4 x D 4 5/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Art C2002.7.3 (HAR 65079)
Achala; Tangut Xixia; possibly produced/woven in Dingzhou (Baoding, Hebei Province); early to mid-13th century; Kesi silk tapestry with seed pearl; 90 cm x 56 cm; Potala Palace Collection
The Golden Fountain of Bhaktapur Palace; Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal; dated 1688. Photograph courtesy Christian Luczanits
Buddha on the Cosmic Mountain; Kashmir; ca. 715 CE; bronze with silver and copper inlay; height 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm; The Norton Simon Foundation, Pasadena, CA; F.1972.48.2.S. Photograph courtesy The Norton Simon Foundation
Hand held Prayer Wheel; Central Tibet; early 20th century; Silver, wood; 19 5/8 × 5 × 4 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin SC2012.7.2
Ritual Dance Mask of Guru Dorje Drolo; Bhutan or southern Tibet; ca. 19th century; Papier-mâché, polychrome, fabric, 14 ½ x 13 ½ x 10 1/8 in.; Bruce Lee Miller Collection. Photo by John Bigelow Taylor
The Central Temple of Erdeni juu Monastery, founded by Abadai Khan; Övörkhangai Province, Mongolia; 1586–1587; floor dimensions 48 ft. 9 in. x 37 ft. 3 in. (14.85 x 11.35 m); early 20th-century.
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