Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents "The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art," an exhibition on view from October 5, 2003 to January 4, 2004
"The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art" is a major international exhibition of approximately 160 of the finest Tibetan, Nepalese, Mongolian, Indian, and Chinese paintings, sculptures, textiles, and ritual implements from collections in North America, Europe, and Nepal that best communicate the ideals and teachings of the Chakrasamvara Tantra and other key Himalayan Buddhist tantras.
The Chakrasamvara Tantra presents a profound methodology for the purification of the practitioner as he or she strives towards Enlightenment. Special emphasis will be given to differentiating Tibetan Buddhism from Nepalese Buddhism. "The Circle of Bliss" provides a clear, well-articulated overview of the Himalayan Buddhist meditational process from its inception through to the completion stages.
The core of the exhibition focuses on the esoteric meditation cycles on the transformative deities, Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, which are regarded as among the principal practices throughout the northern Buddhist world. Previously taught only to initiated disciples, the details of these meditations have been gradually coming into the light of modern scholarship for the last sixty years. The most important and unique contribution of the exhibition is that it will be the first time such detailed connections will be made between the works of art and the meditative practice.
"The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art" is organized in six broad topical sections—foundational assumptions of Himalayan Buddhism, preliminary practices, transformative meditative techniques, iconography and meditations on Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, related esoteric meditations, and benefactors and protectors—each offering substantial interpretive components designed to help viewers grasp the complex concepts and rich imagery being presented.
As part of the exhibition, LACMA is presenting an on-site creation of a Chakrasamvara Sand Mandala by the Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Ganden Shartse monastery in India.
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"The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art" is the focus of LACMA's autumn celebration of Asian art. Other featured exhibitions include: "Salvation: Images of the Buddhist Deity of Compassion" (August 14, 2003 - July 5, 2004), celebrating the importance of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara—also known as Guanyin, Kwanum, and Kannon—across Buddhist Asia; "Drawing on Faith: Ink Paintings for Korean Buddhist Icons" (August 21, 2003 - January 11, 2004), featuring a group of rare Korean Buddhist paintings created as models for devotional imagery over the past 300 years; "Transmitting Culture: Korean Ceramics from Korean American Collections" (August 21, 2003 - January 11, 2004), presenting 50 ceramic works of art from the fifth century AD through the 20th century.
In addition to these exhibitions, LACMA's departments of education, film, and music will present events that highlight the rich culture and history of Asia.
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To keep up with Asia-related events in Southern California, visit the calendar section of the Asia Institute website. If you would like to receive a weekly email newsletter listing Asia-focused events, please send your name and email address to asia@international.ucla.edu.
Cost : Free with museum admission
Los Angeles County Museum of Art(323) 857-6000
www.lacma.org/
Sponsor(s): Los Angeles County Museum of Art
