Resources

Lewis Lancaster of UC Berkeley gives an overview of Japanese Buddhism.

Yoga is traditionally associated with ancient schools of Hindu philosophy, in which one attains peace and salvation as the mind, body and spirit unite. Indian classical dance has its own journey that defines a unique path for individuals to attain liberation. The dancers Navia Natarajan (Bharatanatyam) and Niharika Mohanty (Odissi) will demonstrate the benefits of dance and yoga practice, bringing their individualistic styles together while incorporating yoga postures (asanas) and the extension of breath (pranayama).

This conversation celebrates the opening of the exhibition Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (on view at the Asian Art Museum from October 5, 2012–January 13, 2013). It explores the overlapping interests of internationally recognized contemporary artist Xu Bing and Jerry Yang, a passionate collector and practitioner of Chinese calligraphy. The museum’s director, Dr. Jay Xu, moderates the discussion, focusing on the new artwork by Xu Bing commissioned for the exhibition, along with masterpiece artworks from Jerry Yang’s collection.

GRAINS is an original audio-visual performance deals with expanding the sonic energy that resides in a single grain of sound. The performance explores the visual and sonic amplification of domestic food grains and their transformation into a collection of solid grains that flow like liquid as they multiply. Layering her vocals on top of the flowing grains, Surabhi Saraf weaves a rich tapestry of sounds, multiplied and fragmented, creating dynamic textures and immersive architectural soundscapes.

Fudo Myoo (the Immovable One) is one of the powerful deities known as the Five Bright Kings in Japanese Buddhism and folk religion. As a manifestation of the central cosmic Buddha Mahavairochana (Japanese: Dainichi), Fudo is believed to protect Buddhism and its true adherents. Like all Bright Kings, Fudo assumes a frightening form, with a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left. He sits in front of a swiring flame of fire, with which he purifies evil.

Dr. Andrea Horbinski, of the UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project, discusses Japan and its geography at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco as part of the Medieval Japan Teacher Institute.

An introduction to the arts of Bali.

Where is the line between history and mythology? In Extracted, artist Ranu Mukherjee eclipses the boundaries between the two, placing them in the same universe. Commissioned for the Asian Art Museum’s 50th anniversary, this exhibition drew inspiration from California’s Gold Rush, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the ancient text The Classic of Mountain and Seas, and the museum’s own collection.

Watch a timelapse video of Asian Art Museum and the Rubell Family Collection staff installing Boat by artist Zhu Jinshi. Experience Boat at the Asian Art Museum during the exhibition, 28 Chinese (June 5–August 16, 2015).

In this video, Buddhist monk artists, Seol-min (formerly known as Jae-u) and Myung Chun discuss Korean Buddhist art and paint the Guardian King of the West, which is now in the Asian Art Museum’s collection. This video also includes footage from a symbolic “eye-opening” ceremony, which took place at the museum on December 20, 2003.