Opens May 10! Visions of Enlightenment

May 10-Sept 30, 2012, The O'Brian Gallery, MOA (Opening reception May 10, 7 pm; everyone welcome)

As Buddhism spread across Asia, symbols and sacred images developed to represent the Buddha and illuminate his teachings. These images offer the devotee and viewer both consistency in the forms of Buddhist art, and a vast array of subtle and obvious differences. The latter illuminate the variety of rituals, religious texts, and beliefs generated over time, culture, and geography. They offer a window into Buddhist philosophy, aesthetics and values, combining beauty and meaning.

Works of art in the exhibition focus on basic Buddhist concepts and images, and reflect the purpose of Buddhist art: why it is made, who made it, for whom, and how it is used; for example, in teaching, facilitating meditation, gaining merit, and for devotional purposes. 

Exhibit content reflects the Three Treasures of Buddhism, that is the Buddha, the Dharma (Teaching), and the Sangha (Community). Also described is the role of the bodhisattva and expressions of Buddhist practice, such as obtaining merit and devotion. The exhibit will decode the meaning of representations in Buddhist art, such as hand gestures and the attributes associated with various images.

The objects on display illustrate the primary images found in Buddhist art, and offer viewers a varied visual experience, from an early 5th century Gandharan sculpture, to a Zen painting.

A range of media will be represented, including sculptures (made of stone, metal or lacquered wood) paintings, ceramics, manuscripts, and textiles. These will be drawn from MOA's Asian collection, as well as from private lenders in British Columbia and from the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

Visions of Enlightenment will show examples of Buddhist art from the main Buddhist traditions: the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. In Vancouver, the latter traditions are well represented in the established Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Tibetan communities. The Theravada school represents the traditions of the Burmese, Thai and other Southeast Asian communities.

The exhibition is guest curated by Paula Swart, who has been associated with the Museum of Anthropology as Adjunct Curator (Asia) since 2009. She teaches in the University of Victoria Continuing Studies Department, and has lectured on National Geographic Society expeditions to Asia.

Additional curatorial advice is provided by Margo Palmer, current Director of the Canadian Society for Asian Arts. The Society promotes the arts and cultures of Asia through lectures, cultural events, exhibits, and educational programs. MOA Liaison curator is Dr. Carol E. Mayer, Curator Africa/Oceania. MOA Designer is Skooker Broome.

Visions of Enlightenment is organized by MOA, and supported in part by the Canadian Society of Asian Arts, Bank of Montreal, and Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation. Media Sponsor is the Georgia Straight.

Photo Credit:Figure China, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Wood, clay, lacquer; 26.4 cm x 19 cm x 26 cm Walter Koerner Donation, MOA 1259/1

Kesu'

March 17-September 3, 2012, The Audain Gallery, MOA. Opening reception, Friday, March 16, 7 pm (free; everyone welcome)

Northwest Coast Kwakwaka’wakw art is renowned for its flamboyant, energetic, and colorful carving and painting. Among the leading practitioners was Doug Cranmer (1927-2006), whose style was understated, elegant, and fresh, and whose work quickly found an international following in the 1960s. He was an early player in the global commercial art market, and one of the first Native artists in BC to own his own gallery. A long-time teacher, he inspired generations of young Native artists in his home village of Alert Bay and beyond.

The exhibit shows a wide range of Doug’s artistic works in two and three dimensions in wood and paint, from totem poles, a canoe, masks, bentwood boxes, bowls, and prints, to his important “Abstract series” of paintings on mahogany plywood. Works and words by his students are also included in the exhibit, which is organized as a series of overlapping modules that reflect different aspects of the artist’s life and work.

Dr. Jennifer Kramer, MOA Curator, Pacific Northwest, and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at UBC, curated the exhibit, and authored the accompanying book, which is available in the MOA Shop.

Photo Credit:Doug Cranmer, photo by Judy Cranmer. Non-Figurative painting, 1976, MOA 1726/1.

Forest One by annie ross

March 20-May 27, 2012, The Great Hall, MOA

The Great Hall: gallery, performance space, parking lot. Yes, parking lot! For about two months this spring, annie ross’ amazing Forest One – a full-size, 1956 Nash Metropolitan automobile that the artist has wrapped, twined, and plaited with cedar-bark and other reclaimed materials –will be displayed here, in all its woven glory. Using bark salvaged from clear-cut urban forests, Ross, a weaver and Assistant Professor in First Nations Studies at Simon Fraser University, completely transformed the car inside and out. Forest One speaks of colonization, urban sprawl, trash, and remediating the urban landscape through acts of salvage.

Photo Credit:Forest One by Annie Ross (detail). Photo courtesy the artist.