Art Talk: Peacock Hall 1pm Nov. 6

Images of The Buddha are perhaps among the most recognizable in the world.  We are familiar with the quiet figure seated cross legged with a slightly bowed head and a serene expression. But Buddhism, like all the belief systems, is varied and complex, and depictions of The Buddha and other Buddhist deities are as different as the numerous sects, cultures, nationalities, and geographies that created them.  They include serene motherly Guanyins, eleven-headed Avalokiteshvaras, fierce dakinis, and stupas of every size and shape.

Join Asian Art Museum docent speaker and Rossmoor resident, Mary Meade, to explore some of the ways the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and other Buddhist deities have been visualized by different sects of Buddhism across the centuries, across the globe, and across artistic media.

See how the deity of compassion and mercy has been adapted to reflect the aesthetics of different cultures.

Compare depictions of Japanese Buddhas to those from Thailand, or Tibet.

Contrast the elaborate Tibetan mandala with the minimalist Zen enso.

Come and enjoy the complex artistry and skill that went into creating these sacred objects.