Buddhist Art of Myanmar: Explained

If you cannot go to New York and see the exhibit of Buddhist art from Myanmar at the Asia Society, you can watch experts examine some of the pieces in the clips below.

The exhibit opened in early February and continues until May 10. The New York Times called it “quietly majestic” and the Guardian called it “beautiful and fascinating.”

I saw the exhibit this weekend and loved the way it’s organized. The first floor includes images related to the life of the Buddha. For example, the stone sculpture reviewed below shows the mythical birth of the Buddha.

Another sculpture shows the Buddha cutting his hair as he prepares to search for enlightenment. We also see the Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree and being tempted by Mara. An expert reviews that image below.

If you study all the pieces on this floor, you’ll walk away with a good idea about the life of the Buddha.

The second floor includes pieces about ritual and devotion. Here, you’ll see a beautiful  large and intricately carved shrine as well a number of small wooden figures that represent “nats,” spirits commonly worshiped  in Myanmar. They can be benevolent or malevolent and can be found in households, pagodas, and temples.