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The V&A unveils the first Buddhist gallery in Britain
Louise Jury27 Apr 2009
THE first gallery in Britain dedicated to Buddhist sculpture opens in London this week at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
It will enable the V&A to show its world-class collection of such works. More than half have never been seen or have not been on show for decades because of a lack of space.
Highlights include a rare shrine from Burma not seen for 30 years. It is thought to have belonged to the royal palace in Mandalay. There is also the Bodhisattva Padmapani, one of the finest surviving 14th-century Nepalese Buddhist images in the world, and a stone head from a vast temple complex in Xiangtangshan in China. Pieces date from AD200 to 1850.
The works will be shown in a museum context, although there will be seating to allow visitors to view them meditatively.
The main backer of the development has been a family foundation dedicated to promoting Buddhism. But curator Dr John Clarke insisted that the funding from the Robert H.N.Ho Family Foundation had not influenced its displays. Cultural artefacts from many faiths are presented as part of the V&A's educative mission, not to promote religion, he said. The gallery opens on Wednesday. Admission is free.
Reader views (2)
The shrine that you stole from The Mandalay Palace should be returned.Why would you want to keep vestiges of your days of greed and shame?
- Oh Mar, Yangon, Myanmar, 04/06/2009 07:15
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Dear All,
It is really nice to read & know about The First Buddhist Arts & Cultural Event is taking it's shape. And also unveiled A Dedicated Buddhist Gallery in Victoria & Albert Museum, London. In today's world of uncertainty, terrorist attacks, formation of war clouds between some nations, cold war like situations , atomic threats and rising numbers of divorces, we all have one option that is to follow the great thought of Buddha.
Wishing you all, a prosperous and peacefull life ahead.
Thanks & Regards,
Anil A. Palsambkar mumbai, India.
- Anil A. Palsambkar, Mumbai, INDIA., 04/06/2009 06:15
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