A collection of Chinese Buddhist art from the early dynasties of China was on display in the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) in the State of Missouri, US recently.
Themed "Chinese Buddhist Art, 10th - 15th Centuries," the exhibition explores Chinese Buddhist Art spanning 600 years, from the Five Dynasties (907-960) to the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Drawn from the museum's collection including some rare works, the exhibition explores this evolution of Chinese Buddhist art in that period.
The murals of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) on display. /Photo via slam.org
According to the press release of SLAM, the centerpiece of the exhibition is a wall painting depicting the Seated Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) that once decorated a temple hall in northern China during the Five Dynasties period.
The wall painting was one of the oldest and largest surviving works of its kind. It was given to the Museum by C.T. Loo, the preeminent dealer of Chinese art and artifacts during the first half of the 20th century.
Also on exhibition are four hanging scrolls, including a pair illustrated with lotuses, and a painted wooden sculpture of a seated arhat that has never been exhibited at the museum.
The exhibition is on view through September 30, 2018.
(Cover: Seated Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) on display /Photo via slam.org)