In the land of the Dragon: sacred arts of Bhutan
an exhibition at the Guimet Museum in Paris
with two live monks every day!
from 7th October 2009 – 25th January 2010
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This exhibition (devised by the Honolulu Academy of Arts!) brings together for the first time over a hundred pieces of Buddhist art lent by various temples and monasteries in Bhutan, a Himalayan kingdom situated between Tibet and the Indian state of Assam, and is a miraculously well preserved and vibrant enclave of Tibetan Buddhism…
Musée Guimet. Photo by Sammee used under cc licence
Religious items, the majority of these pieces have never been seen outside of Bhutan. Made up mostly of thangkas, painted or embroidered, sometimes very large, but also metallic sculptures and some liturgical objects, spanning from the 8th to the 19th century, the exhibition give an overview of traditional Bhutansese arts and their development, still little known in the west, via various iconographic themes of tantric Buddhism. The exhibition will also show how tantric Buddhism spread through Bhutan with the help of great Indian and Tibetan masters, as well as by the principal religious figures that marked the country’s history.
all rights reserved
A series of exceptional and never before seen films, made in the country, showing ritual Buddhist or Cham dances – performed by monks for certain important holy days – completes the exhibition.
Above all, two monks will be present in the museum in a specially-created space, carrying out daily rituals that the public can watch.
The exhibition is also a way of celebrating the centenary of the reign of the House of Wangchuk and the adoption of the first constitution in Bhutan in 2008.
The exhibition In the land of the Dragon: sacred arts of Bhutan is at the Musée Guimet (here) from 7th October 2009 – 25th January 2010. Open every day except Tuesdays from 10am – 6pm. Closed 25th December and 1st January. Admission: 7€/4€ or combined ticket with the permanent collection 8.50€/6€. The permanent collection is free for under 26 year olds.
Official site: www.guimet.fr
septembre 17th, 2009 on 6 h 38 min
It is time that, we preserve our valuable religious items for our future generation to see. Religion has been the only way out in this world full of turmoil. Good work by the museum. Keep up and All good wishes.