In collaboration with local collectors, the University Museum and Art Gallery of

the University of Hong Kong presents Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art, an exhibition comprising of artworks from Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and Mongolia. Dating from the 6th–19th century, the exhibition is composed primarily of bronze statues and thangkas of deities and gurus in Tibetan Buddhism.

 

As a form of religious art, the depicted hand gestures and weapons can be understood iconographically as symbols of wisdom and compassion that hold the power to enlighten all sentient beings. From an art historical perspective, these Himalayan masterpieces reflect an array of aesthetic and artistic traditions from neighbouring regions across the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

 

As part of Buddhism’s eternal journey from India to the Himalayas, China and

Japan, the religious icons and objects of daily religious practice remain a testament

to the shifting cultures that have engaged with Buddhism over the millennia. Acknowledging such a state of transience through the current exhibition highlights the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha; the ability to behold the true nature of the world.