Unknown Tibet: The Tucci Expeditions and Buddhist Paintings
Unknown Tibet: The Tucci Expeditions and Buddhist Painting
at The Asia Society
725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Now on view until May 20
FREE admission for Hunter students, staff, and faculty with valid ID
I had the pleasure of attending a media preview at the Asia Society for the exhibit Unknown Tibet: The Tucci Expeditions and Buddhist Painting. The exhibit displays paintings dating from 14th century to mid 19th century. Not only does the exhibition highlight an array of paintings specific to the Tibetan region’s religious practices, but the exhibition shows reverence to Giuseppe Tucci, the Italian scholar of Asian cultures that collected the artwork.
The exhibition is set up in a way to display the art while also allowing the viewer to take a geographical journey through Tucci’s expeditions throughout regions of Tibet. The other path follows the path to Buddhist awakening. The exhibit is arranged in a way to make you feel as though you are walking through a journey. My tour was guided by senior curator at Asia Society, Dr. Adriana Proser and guest curator, Dr. Deborah Klimburg- Salter, who gave detailed explanations about every piece in the exhibit and shared stories about Tucci’s firsthand experiences in many of the places he traveled.
Taking into consideration the age of these paintings, the current condition of them is immensely impressive. Because of Tucci’s eight expeditions beginning 100 years ago, regions unknown to the west were given exposure and reverence. Dr. Slater emphasized the strenuous physical ability required to have traveled the distance and amount Tucci had. The art collected by Tucci was art that was purchased or gifted to him by communities that believed the art to be too badly damaged for religious use. After 30 years of refurbishment and research, the paintings were ready to be displayed in The Museum pf Civilisation- Museum of Oriental Art in Rome.
During Tucci’s travels, he realized he needed photographers to accompany him, as he failed to document the expeditions by himself. Tucci’s goal for a photographer was to “reveal and preserve the remains of ancient civilization.” The photographers who captured many of the images in the exhibit are Eugenio Ghersi, Fosco Mariani Felice Boffo Bellaran, Regolo Moise, and Pietro Fransesco. Tucci needed specific photographers who could also undertake the physical constraints of the expedition. Over 14,000 photos exist.
The Buddhist art exhibited is arranged in a way inspired by the path to Buddhist awakening. The Three Jewels, or fundamental parts of Buddhism are the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. The first section of the exhibit focuses on images of the Buddha. The iconography of the Buddha in the center of the painting in robes in peaceful poses can be traced to Indian roots that Tibet carried on. The dharma referred to the Buddha’s teachings. This gallery exhibits specific Dharmas in a form of written text. The next section, The Sangha, is the Buddhist community. In the gallery, this is represented by an incomplete set of Arhat paintings. Arhats are early monks that followed Shakyamuni Buddha. Other sections of the gallery are dedicated to the Lamas, Buddhist masters, the yidam, a personal meditation deity, and the protectors of the Dharma.
The last area of the gallery was very cool to me because it is dedicated to pre-Buddhist art. Many works of art in this section contain maps of cosmos ancient cultures observed from two of the tallest mountains in Tibet. These cosmic paintings are a beautiful way to tie the entire culture, history, and Tucci’s expeditions together.
Unknown Tibet: The Tucci Expeditions and Buddhist Painting
at The Asia Society
725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Now on view until May 20
FREE admission for Hunter students, staff, and faculty with valid ID
You must be logged in to post a comment.