The Exhibition

Gateway to Himalayan Art

Gateway to Himalayan Art invites you to enter into the art and cultures of the greater Himalayan region—Indian, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Tibetan—and the interrelated Mongolian and Chinese traditions. Much of Himalayan art is informed by Buddhist, Hindu, and native religions, and images play a prominent role in cultural practices.

This exhibition introduces the fundamental visual language of Himalayan art, including the types of figures, gestures, and symbols and their meanings; the materials and technologies used to create works of art; and the living practices and intentions for commissioning these works in the context of secular and religious well-being. It foregrounds first-person voices from Himalayan communities, including artists, practitioners, and teachers. The exhibition offers essential tools for approaching Himalayan art, as well as opportunities to find richer meanings and make connections to your own everyday life.

Symbols and Meanings

Learn about the art and objects from Himalayan cultural regions and the visual language (iconography) used to convey the meanings of figures and symbols representing religious ideas and concepts.

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Symbols and Meanings

Materials and Technologies

Learn about the processes and methods for creating Himalayan art that were developed over centuries, refined through collaborative efforts of patrons and artists, and encompass all known traditional art making media. To make three-dimensional objects, artists sculpt and carve in clay, stone, and wood, cast images in the round, and hammer repoussé reliefs in metal. 

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Materials and Technologies

Living Practices

In Himalayan cultures most objects are created with a specific purpose, often in the context of religious practices or special occasions marking life events, but also as part of everyday secular activities. These images and objects function as part of living practices, whether individual, familial, professional, or communal.

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Living Practices