Archive
ON THE STEPPES OF GENGHIS KHAN – MONGOLIAN NOMADS
MOESGAARD MUSEUM, Denmark
Open until April 2019
ON THE STEPPES OF GENGHIS KHAN – MONGOLIAN NOMADS
Some of us always had a soft spot for Genghis Khan, the 13th century Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, and of the largest contiguous empire in history. The first thing I learned about Ghengis Kahan was that he listened to and respected his mother; that he was brutal and gentle at the same time; open to foreign religions; and instituted sophisticated government and taxing systems. The exhibit includes fantastic works from international loans and Danish museums showing the rich culture of these nomads of the steppes with their sheep, goats, horses and camels, often on the move, and in contact with merchants on ancient and present trade routes, bringing material wealth that can be seen in their ornaments, fabrics, costumes, tents and furniture. Reviews point out that the exhibit shows an intriguing alternative to our sedentary life.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
THE JEWELED ISLE: ART FROM SRI LANKA
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
http://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/jeweled-isle-art-sri-lanka
December 9, 2018 – June 23, 2019
First comprehensive exhibit of Sri Lankan art organized by an American museum!
Some 250 art works from LACMA’s extensive collection and numerous domestic and international lenders, this exhibit covers two thousand years of decorative and fine art including objects fashioned from gold, silver and ivory. Hinduism and Buddhism both are important for Sri Lanka’s culture and many religious sculptures, paintings, and architectural fragments from both religions are represented. Photographs from the island’s historical capitals – Anuradhapura, Polonnaruva and Kandy convey the importance of these monumental religious sites.
We have six months to see this exhibit!
Cheers,
Elisabeth
CAN GAZING AT BOTTICELLI’S VENUS CAUSE A HEART ATTACK ???
An Italian man fainted while gazing at the Venus painting (ca. 1485) at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, and suffered a heart attack two weekends ago and is said to now recover.
Variously known as Stendhal Syndrome, hyperkulturemia or Florence syndrome this disorder appears to be specific to Florence when admiring and focusing on such magnificent paintings like Venus ascending from the ocean.
Have you been to Florence and seen this painting?
Cheers and Happy New Year!!!
Elisabeth
GLIMPSE OF ANCIENT YEMEN
Exhibit at Freer Sackler until August 18, 2019<
https://www.freersackler.si.edu
We often associate frankincense and myrrh with Yemen – if you wish to learn more about what was there since ancient times and what is being destroyed now, go and see this exhibit and also read this blog about
ANCIENT WOMEN SPEAK OUT – TODAY!!!!
https://www.freersackler.si.edu/ancient-women-speak-out-today/
Fascinating and sad. Looting has gone on for centuries on this crossroad of international trade between the Mediterranean region, Asia and the Middle East, but the vicious multisided war has now been going on since 2015 with no end in sight.
No cheers,
Elisabeth
Lands of Asia
http://landsofasia.kimbellart.org
Until August 19th, 2018
Another very substantial Asian art exhibit in Texas- at the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth.
Between the Crow Collection Dallas, the Fine Arts Museum in Houston, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Asia Society Texas, Houston, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and most of all the Kimbell, Asian art lovers feel very fortunate in Texas.
Collected by Sam and Myrna Myers after they were posted in Paris in the mid 1960s, and eventually assembling some five thousand works of art including Asian, Roman and Greek antiquities. Driven by a passion for Asia, the Myers soon started to concentrate on East Asian pieces, particularly in jade, silk, porcelain and other refined materials.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
Korean screen reaches $ 562,500
Korean screen reaches a record $ 562,500; sold by Lark Mason Associates of New York and New Braunfels!
This is what every dealer and auctioneer hopes for …. a “Chinese” large twelve panel screen attributed to the 18th century with scenes from the Buddhist paradise turned out to be a rare Korean screen – employing Chinese subject matters. The screen sold to a Korean dealer and returned to Korea after a long sojourn in the United States. I love this story!
Cheers,
Elisabeth
THE NINE DOMES MOSQUE in Afghanistan
A 9th century mosque in northern Afghanistan in Balkh province ca. 12 miles west of Mazar-i-Sharif. Discovered or re-discovered in 1960 by an American archaeologist but not excavated and inspected until 2006. We know that Genghis Khan and many earthquakes destroyed many monuments in Balkh province.
Carbon dating and historical sources suggest that the mosque could have been built as early as 794 – Julio Sarmiento-Bendezu, director of the French Archeological Delegation in Afghanistan, the leader of the excavations said that this early date means that the mosque of the (Persian) Abbasid Empire has been influenced by Afghanistan and not the other way around. The mosque would have once been studded with lapis lazuli and turquoise.
Would it not be nice if we could visit the mosque and travel through Afghanistan again as some of us were able to do before the wars started.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
CLAREMONT RUG COMPANY IN OAKLAND
https://www.claremontrug.com/50-best-of-their-type-2017/
CLAREMONT RUG COMPANY IN OAKLAND
This is an exhibition temporarily displayed on the website of Claremont Rug Company showing the top quality carpets they have sold during the previous year.
A total of fifty carpets dating from ca. 1800 to ca. 1875 in a variety of designs of Persian and Caucasian styles. While most carpets would be for billionaire buyers I get pleasure from seeing and admiring and learning about the best of the best. And I am happy to see an increase of antique Oriental rugs used as wall art and space dividers. “Regular” rug enthusiasts like me have always used very modest rugs as cover for my display desk, on a table and on the wall like my old Heriz – a baptismal present from my grandmother.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY
https://nelson-atkins.org/events/a-jain-shrine-from-india/
The Nelson-Atkins has many treasures and one has been kept in storage and now cleaned up : acquired in 1932 the ornately carved and in great detail painted shrine is presented in REVEALING A HIDDEN TREASURE: A JAIN SHRINE FROM INDIA,
dated to the 16th century. Jainism is an ancient religion of India with the followers called Jains, practicing non-violent behavior and often praying in front of house shrine of which this one is a splendid example.
My first experience with the Nelson-Atkins was many moons ago when Laurence Sickman was director; together with Langdon Warner Laurence Sickman bought Japanese and Chinese sculpture, paintings and furniture for the Nelson-Atkins.
Buddhism 7th century B.C.
Jainism 6th century B.C.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
THREE EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN HOUSTON
MODERNISM ON THE GANGES: RAGHUBIR SINGH PHOTOGRAPHS
https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/modernism-on-the-ganges-raghubir-singh-photographs
March 3 – June 3, 2018
Raghubir Singh, born in Jaipur (1942-1999) lived in Asia and Europe and often returned to his native India. In 90 images and over a thirty year period, Singh who was influenced by Cartier-Bresson, photographed often with a hand-held camera in color everyday life and festivals. One of my favorite is the one showing the Professional Lunch Distributor or Dhabadwallah with his tiffin boxes.
BESTOWING BEAUTY:MASTERPIECES FROM PERSIAN LANDS
https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/bestowing-beauty-masterpieces-persian-lands
Through February 11, 2018
Comprising some 100 works of art from the 6th to the 19th century on view to the public for the first time, from the Hossein Afshar Collection, one of the most important collections of Persian art in private hands……..does anybody have information about Hossein Afshar?
PEACOCK IN THE DESERT: THE ROYAL ARTS OF JODHPUR, INDIA
https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/peacock-in-desert-royal-arts-jodhpur-india
March 4 – August 19, 2018
Masterpieces never before seen outside the palace walls of the kingdom of Marwar-Jodhpur in Rajasthan, covering four centuries of sumptuous jewels, arms and armor, intricately carved furnishings, a monumental 17th century court tent, paintings and textiles – all together some 250 objects from Indian courtly life together with large scale photo murals will be shown.
Exhibit runs concurrent with Raghubir Singh’s photo exhibit it.
Elisabeth Wien's Blog 