South Asian

 Buddhist Art and Pilgrimage   New 

Kerry Lucinda Brown, Art History PhD Candidate, Virginia Commonwealth University

Shortly after the death of Buddha in the 5th century BCE, pilgrimage was promoted as a vital component of Buddhist practice and spiritual development. Subsequently, the art and architecture that developed at these sites have become intrinsic components of Buddhist visual culture. Explore Buddhist art and architecture in the context of pilgrimage of South Asia, including the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment. From an early date, pilgrimage souvenirs and temple replicas of this site have been made, a tradition that survives to the present day. 

 Devi: The Goddess and Her Many Forms    New 

Kerry Lucinda Brown, Art History PhD Candidate, Virginia Commonwealth University 

Throughout South Asia, the Goddess Devi is an important cultural and religious symbol in both Hindu and Buddhist communities. The variety of her forms, both wrathful and peaceful, underscores the dynamic nature of this figure. Utilizing archeological findings in the rich visual culture of South Asia, this lecture examines the roots of the goddess tradition in ancient India and the contemporary aspects of Devi’s worship today. Particular attention will be placed on understanding the cultural contexts-religious, philosophical, and political-that motivated the creation of these art objects over the last 2500 years.  

My VMFA: South Asian Art

John Henry Rice, Associate Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

In his overview of the department of South Asian and Islamic Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, John Henry Rice provides insight into South Asian and Islamic cultures while showing highlights of the collection.
 

Tomb, Palace, and Pavilion: Mughal Gardens and Garden Architecture

John Henry Rice, Associate Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The dramatic centerpiece of VMFA's newly reinstalled South Asian collections will be a magnificent late-Mughal garden pavilion. Its white marble surfaces are carved with refined floral decoration, and a fountain basin rests in the middle of its intricately inlaid floor. This light, airy structure probably graced a royal or aristocratic garden complex not far from India's most famous work of garden architecture: the Taj Mahal. In celebration of this important new acquisition, this talk explores the history of north India's Mughal gardens and focuses on the architectural monuments that adorned them.