A slew of recent Buddhist art exhibits in the Los Angeles area
are proving there’s a lot more to the religion than Zen
wisdom and Shaolin warriors.
Buddhist ideals are portrayed in “The Circle of Bliss:
Buddhist Meditational Art,” currently on display at the Los
Angeles County Museum of Art, and “From the Verandah: Art,
Buddhism, Presence,” showcasing at the on-campus Fowler
Museum.
The recent increase in the amount of Buddhist imagery shown at
local galleries and museums suggests a renewed interest in the
religion, especially as a source of artistic inspiration.
The Fowler exhibit encourages visitors to experience the
Japanese-style veranda and get in touch with their feelings. To
achieve this purpose, the museum has provided meditation pillows,
and visitors are requested to remove their shoes so they can walk
on the veranda and look at the one piece of art it holds, a small
marble sculpture of a temple surrounded by rice.
“We were trying to create the conditions for having an
experience of feeling, and not necessarily learning,” said
Marla Berns, director of the Fowler and curator of the exhibition.
“We did this in part to evoke, through an experience, certain
ideas that are central to Buddhism, but also because there is so
little opportunity in our daily lives to be quiet and calm because
we’re so oriented with driving around, being on the phone,
and always being busy.”
The artists at the exhibit ““ which includes media ranging
from sculpture to music composition ““ expressed excitement at
having the opportunity to present Buddhism and its ideas to the
public in such a unique light.
“Once you enter, there’s an infinite space between
two entities,” said Hirokazu Kosaka, a Buddhist priest,
master Zen archer and artist at the Fowler exhibition. “There
is no beginning or ending, just a continuing cycle and recycle of
life. It’s not yes or no but infinite maybes, not black or
white but infinite shades of gray.”
“The Circle of Bliss” takes a more traditional
approach in presenting the art of Buddhism, but shares the same
serene feeling as the Fowler exhibit, with both encouraging inner
thought and contemplation.
LACMA’s other Buddhism-related exhibitions feature
“Salvation: Images of the Buddhist Deity of Compassion”
and “Drawing on Faith: Ink Paintings for Korean Buddhist
Icons.” Both opened in August.
“One of the reasons why Buddhist art is seemingly more
popular right now is because there’s been a lot of Tibetan
Buddhist art coming out that’s never been shown
before,” said Robert L. Brown, UCLA professor of art
history.
According to Brown, who specializes in Southeast Asian art, the
Dalai Lama’s presence in America in recent years has also
sparked some interest in Buddhism.
Art is by no means the only representation Buddhism has in the
Los Angeles area. There are approximately 145 Buddhist centers in
the greater L.A. County for devout Buddhists. However, some believe
art can be effective in bringing the religion to the general
public’s attention when other avenues may not be as
successful.
“Maybe the exhibits will lead to more Buddhist
representation on campus,” said Burglind Jungmann, UCLA
professor of art history.