News

Golden Visions of Densatil, A Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Asia Society (NY), February 19 – May 18, 2014.

The Densatil Monastery has long been considered one of the great treasures of Tibet. Constructed at the end of the twelfth century in a remote, rocky area of central Tibet, this Buddhist monastery was most famed for its special stupas—reliquaries that housed the remains of venerated Buddhist teachers. The stupas at Densatil were of a type called tashi gomang (Many Doors of Auspiciousness). They were multi-tiered, sculptural gilt copper structures that stood more than ten feet tall and were resplendent with inlays of semiprecious stones. Prior to the destruction of Densatil during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1978), eight of them dating between 1208 and 1432 stood in the Monastery’s main hall. This pioneering exhibition brings together statues and panels from international public and private collections to give us a sense of the grandeur of the memorial structures that once stood at Densatil. (Read the full article).

In the Land of Snow, Buddhist Art From the Himalayas. Norton Simon Museum March 28 – August 25, 2014.

The Himalayas—known as the "abode of snow"—span much of the northern Asian continent and have long connected the cultures of India, Nepal and Tibet. While the traditions and languages of this region are diverse, Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism was practiced by various groups throughout the area, providing a common visual and liturgical vocabulary for believers. (Read the full article).

There are many different ways that the Lotus Base  is used in figurative art, however they can all be reduced to five or six basic forms: 1. Single Lotus, 2. Double Lotus, 3. Lotus & Stem, 4. Lotus & Throne, 5. Swat Style Lotus and other 6. Regional Lotus Styles.

There are four distinct types of seats that can be classified as Throne Bases in figurative art. The basic throne is typically square, sometimes a semi-circle. It can be simple in design and appear as if it is a raised platform, or cushion. The very ornate throne can also have legs beneath, plain or elaborate.

There are Four Principal Types of Sculpture Bases used for figurative art: Throne, Lotus, Legs and Rocks. The four types can also be combined in various ways to create interesting visual effects.

These five Tibetan worldly protectors belonging to the 'Tsen' classification have been grouped together because they each look almost identical in appearance. There is no traditional Tibetan grouping for these figures except with Dorje Setrab and Tsiu Marpo joined by Dorje Shugden. They are known collectively, within the Sakya Tradition only, as the 'Three Kings'.

The two, Kache Marpo and Yamshu Marpo, are typically depicted as minor figures, not central and larger, in a composition. Kache Marpo was popularized by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Yamshu Marpo has more commonly been associated as a retinue figure in the entourage of Tsiu Marpo. 

A List of Teachers from the Gandavyuha Sutra have been added to the HAR site. These individuals are the fifty-three teachers that the boy Sudhana met on his journey to enlightenment after being encouraged by the bodhisattva Manjushri. A highlight of the narrative is when Sudhana encounters the Palace of Vairochana appearing to house an infnite number of Buddhas and complete Buddhafields, after which, Sudhana then meets the future Buddha Maitreya.

A White Jambhala Masterworks Page has been added to the Masterworks Main Page.

A Tangtong Gyalpo Masterworks Page, including both painting and sculpture, has been added to the Masterworks Main Page.

A page listing the Nartang Gyatsa Compendium of Deities according to function and activity has been added. The broad categories are: Auspicious & Peaceful Activities, Long-life & the Removal of Sickness & Disease, Wisdom Producing Activities, Wealth Producing Activities, Peaceful & Semi-wrathful Obstacle Removing, and Wrathful Activities.

The Nartang Gyatsa, a compendium of iconographic deity forms, compiled by Chim Namkha Drag (1210-1285), has been updated with additional cataloguing.

A new main page has been added for the female deity Pratisara according to the Vajrapanjara Tantra.

This is a rare and complete copy of the Blue Beryl Medical Paintings commissioned in the 17th century by the 3rd Desi, Sanggye Gyatso (1653-1705). The copy of the set is relatively new, commissioned in the early 1990s, and painted in Lhasa, Tibet. The set stands as a close to true facsimile being based on the almost complete remaining set, housed in Lhasa, believed to have been originally commissioned by Sanggye Gyatso.

13.12.2013 - UNESCO Office in Kathmandu Art exhibition “Revisiting and remembering the lost sculptures of the Kathmandu Valley” Joy Lynn Davis 15-21 December 2013, Patan Museum, Lalitpur

Since the 1960s, thousands of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures have disappeared from Nepal’s public temples, shrines, courtyards, fountains, and fields. Prior to the thefts, they were actively worshipped by their communities as living deities. This exhibition documents community response to the theft of stone sculptures from the Kathmandu Valley. Paintings, interviews, and photographic documentation, weave together narratives of Kathmandu’s sacred spaces, exploring how people respond when religious art objects—that exist, not as commodities, but as vital living community participants—are physically removed.

There are generally three distinct component parts to a figurative sculpture: figure, base and back (torana). The first is the figure itself. Almost all of the figures in Himalayan style art can be easily categorized into the Eleven Figurative Forms. There will of course  always be exceptions.

The second part of a sculpture is the base with four general types: throne, lotus, with legs and rock outcropping.

The third part of a sculpture is the back (torana). Backs of sculpture are understood through the three periods of time beginning with early, middle and late torana designs.  This is also the only part of the three sculptural components which is not always required or necessary.

The Tree Configuration of Figures in Himalayan style sculptural art is a development over time that makes use of the late 1st millennium elongated lotus stem and seat originally accommodating a single figure. Several good examples that depict this are a Tara in stone, an Amoghapasha and a Vairochana Buddha. Another variation on this elongated flower blossom is the Lotus Mandala with the longest stem of all and a completely enclosing articulated lotus flower.

A Figurative Sculpture Main Page has been added and will continue to be worked on and improved with more links and explanations of the various subjects and topics.

A Cold Gold & Painted Faces Page has been added. The images are only a selection of examples from the database.

A Karma Gardri Sculpture Style Page has been added. There are more examples known and they will be added to the page when available.

The Sculpture Main Page has been updated with clearer navigation choices and links.