Rubin Museum exhibition illustrates how Tibetan Buddhism empowered politics

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS

Hevajra (central detail); China; Ming dynasty, Yongle Period, ca. 1417–1423; silk embroidery; 81 x 131 cm; Pritzker Collection

Religion has influenced and empowered countless political leaders throughout history, and Tibetan Buddhism is no exception. The Rubin Museum's “Faith and Empire: Art and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism” is the first exhibition of its kind to explore Tibetan Buddhism’s dynamic political role in the empires of Asia from the 7th to the early 20th century. The exhibition places Himalayan art in a larger global context and sheds light on a little-known aspect of Tibetan Buddhism related to power, one that may run counter to popular perceptions yet is critical to understanding its importance on the world stage. Tibetan Buddhism offered a divine means to power and legitimacy to rule, with images serving as a means of political propagation and embodiments of power.

Rubin Museum of Art: "Faith and Empire: Art and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism" (February 1-July 15, 2019); 150 West 17th St. New York, NY; (212) 620-5000; rubinmuseum.org