Resources

Ewer with chrysanthemum scroll, approx. 1100-1200. China; Shaanxi province Northern Song dynasty (960–1126). Yaozhou ware, glazed high-fired ceramic with carved decoration. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1233.

Cup with high handle, approx. 2500–1900 BCE. China; Shandong province. Neolithic period, Longshan culture (approx. 2500-1900 BCE). Gift of Bruce and Terese Bartholomew, 1998.30.

John Duncan, Director for Korean Studies, UCLA, gives a talk on Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) Korea at the Asian Art Museum.

Asian Art Museum Docent, Linda Lei, gives a talk to teachers on the symbols associated with Chinese Lunar New Year at the Asian Art Museum on May 15, 2014.

A demon (buta), 1993, by Duyeh. Indonesia; Cibiru, West Java. Wood, cloth, and mixed media. From the Mimi and John Herbert Collection, F2000.86.121.

The religious fervor and opulence of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) can be seen in the intricately hand-copied sutras (the teachings of the Buddha) that date to this period. Korean monk-scribes were commissioned by royals, aristocrats, and individual high-ranking monks to write the sacred words of the Buddha by applying pigments of ground gold and silver to deep indigo–dyed mulberry paper. They began by pictorially narrating the sermons of the Buddha with key episodes within the sutra chapter on the frontispiece (first four sutra panels). The rest of the sutra comprised flowing calligraphy translating the Buddha’s teachings.

Jeffrey Durham, Associate Curator of Himalayan Art, discusses a painting of the Buddha Vairochana in the exhibition, Enter the Mandala.

Bhima (Bima), second of the Pandava (Pandawa) brothers, approx. 1960. Indonesia; West Java. Wood, cloth, and mixed media. From the Mimi and John Herbert Collection, F2000.86.157.

The painting of the temple offering at the start of this video, on view at the Asian Art Museum during the Bali exhibition, is by Miguel Covarrubias. It is among the many offerings he must have seen as he traveled around the island of Bali. Offerings such as these are still an important part of ceremonial life in Bali to this day. Miguel Covarrubias, a Mexican artist famous in 1920s and 30s New York City for illustrating the covers of magazines like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, made his first trip to Bali in 1930 with his wife Rose.

This video features examples of different types of Balinese dance, costumes, and music. Bali: Art, Ritual Performance was on view at the Asian Art Museum from February 25–September 11, 2011.