Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure

Himalayas : An Aesthetic Adventure accompanies a landmark exhibition of the same name, the first to include objects from all major regions of the Himalayas. This generously illustrated volume, which includes nearly two hundred of the finest works of art created between the sixth and nineteenth centuries in Nepal, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, Tibet and Bhutan, explores the particular beauty that evolved from the spiritual traditions unique to the Himalayas. An important contribution to Western appreciation of Himalayan art, this book surveys the artistic achievements of various Himalayan cultures—primarily within the framework of the aesthetic and theological requirements of the two great Asian religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, that prevail in the region to this day—and conveys the spiritual aspirations of those who defied the physical hardships of an arduous mountain terrain to express their soaring creative spirit. Essays and catalogue entries investigate the cultural milieu in which the works of art—objects of devotion and ritual implements—were created. All works featured in the exhibition, about seventy percent of which have never been published or publicly exhibited, are illustrated in full color. Currently held in private and public collections in North America, Europe, and Asia, these works include temple sculptures of stone, wood, and terracotta; cast bronzes with inlaid semiprecious stones, gilding, and pigment; colorful paintings on cloth, palm leaf, paper, and wood; and ritual objects in various media. An appendix provides translations and interpretations of important Nepali, Kashmiri, and Tibetan inscriptions.