Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, is pleased to announce Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art, an exhibition of more than 30 artworks from Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and Mongolia. Dating from the 7th–18th century, the exhibition is composed primarily of bronze statues and thangkas of deities and gurus in Tibetan Buddhism. This public display has been assembled to complement HKU’s international symposium Giuseppe Tucci, his adventurous life, and his scholarly legacy, presented in memory of the renowned Tibetologist on 5 August 2022.

As a form of religious art, the depicted hand gestures and weapons can be understood iconographically in the context of Tibetan Buddhism as symbols of wisdom and compassion that hold the power to enlighten all sentient beings. From an art historical perspective, these Himalayan masterpieces reflect an array of aesthetic and artistic traditions from neighbouring regions across the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

As part of Buddhism’s eternal journey from India to the Himalayas, China and Japan, the religious icons and objects of daily religious practice remain a testament to the shifting cultures that have engaged with Buddhism over the millennia. Acknowledging such a state of transience through the current exhibition highlights the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha; the ability to behold the true nature of the world.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor.