When: closing June 10, 2018
The Sackler puts on a terrific show when they have important objects to display. They exhibit them beautifully; they explain them well; they use dramatic lighting and wall colors - it's all very well done. Their current show on lacquer Buddhas is the latest example of how to show magnificent pieces to their best advantage. There's a dignity to how these works are presented; you, the visitor, feels as if you're seeing something wonderful.
There are innumerable representations of Buddha that exist in the world, but there are very few Buddha statutes made of lacquer. The three earliest known examples are all housed in the United States: one at the Met, one at the Walters in Baltimore and one here at the Freer. Right now, all three of them are together, for the first time, at the Sackler.
This is a two room show; the outer room provides X-ray views of each Buddha and explanations of how they were created. There's also a discussion of the blood and bone that were found to be mixed into the lacquer. The bones are from horses and cows - they don't know the origin of the blood!
Pictured here (I figured photography of the Buddhas themselves was not allowed) are two 3D prints of a Bodhisattva head. Aside from the fact that 3D printing is just cool generally, it really allows you to get close up and see details that the originals are too fragile to allow.
In Buddhism, Bodhisattvas are those persons who are capable of reaching nirvana, but out of compassion for suffering beings, delay doing so. I think of them as a sort of guardian angel, to make a comparison from Christianity. I'm not sure that Bodhisattvas really exist, but I like the idea, so I'm always happy to see them represented.
Verdict: Do not miss this great exhibit, yet another reason to be happy that the Sackler has re-opened.
No comments:
Post a Comment