To help the Taiwanese public learn more about the spirit of Tibetan Buddhism, the Ministry of Culture's Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center is staging "A Journey with Buddha — Tibetan Buddhist Statues and Thangka Art Exhibition" from June 1 through Sept. 2 at the Taipei-based Mongolian and Tibetan Gallery.
Noting that each culture has its own unique, profound, and fascinating aspects, Deputy Minister of Culture Hsiao Tsung-huang pointed out that the exhibition presents the peerless artistic features of Thangka scrolls and the close connection between the religion of Tibetan Buddhism and its followers.
He also shared his expectations for the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center to play a bigger role in the future in promoting Mongolian and Tibetan cultures so the value of respecting diversity can be shared among more Taiwanese people.
The Buddha statues and Thangka artworks showcased at the exhibition encompass themes including the origin of Buddhism, the development of Buddhism, the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet, and the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The selection presents the rich religious implications that guide the artistic creations of Tibet.
The gold-coated bronze Buddha statue, a sacred object in Tibetan Buddhism, is an art form based on traditional Tibetan sculptural arts while combining the craftsmanship and techniques of India, Nepal, and ethnic Han territories that have undergone thousands of years of evolution. Thus each statue reflects the unique and vivid ethnic flavor of Tibetan culture and the pristine characters of their makers.
Thangka, a type of scroll painting or tapestry, is an inimitable art form brimming with Tibetan features and a wide range of subjects. Influenced by a multitude of cultures that surround Tibet, the art has been divided into different schools and Thangka patterns can be painted on embroidery, brocade, silk, appliqué, and cotton scrolls.
The exhibition venue has also organized a prayer area decorated with Tibetan prayer flags, on which visitors can write their best wishes for whom hold dear.
‘A Journey with Buddha — Tibetan Buddhist Statues and Thangka Art Exhibition’
- Date: June 1 – Sept. 2, 2019
- Venue: Mongolian and Tibetan Gallery
- Address: No. 3 Qingtian St. Lane 8, Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
- Site: https://mtcc.moc.gov.tw/