Paper Example on Current Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Buddha Maitreya (Mile fo) is one of the early Chinese sculptures that have survived to date (Met Museum, n.d.). The sculpture was made following the spread of Indians in China along the Silk Road (Met Museum, n.d.). The significance of the sculpture is seen in how it influenced the Chinese religion to date. Worshipped as a Buddha and a bodhisattva, the exhibition of the sculpture can help in understanding elements of the Chinese religion.

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• Artist: Not known but attributed to the Liao dynasty (907–1125)
• Title of the Work: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Water Moon Form (Shuiyue Guanyin)
• Date of the Work: 11th Century
• Medium or Material used: Wood (willow)
• Current Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The art, which is a representation of a bodhisattva seated with one of the knees raised, and the other crossed, represents divinity (Met Museum, n.d.). On an outer look, the sculpture takes the shape of a seated Chinese woman. The art creates a foundation in understanding the influence of the Indians on the Chinese religion. This art is one of the ancient Indian creations that have been deeply assimilated into Chinese culture.

Japan

• Artist: Artist not known. Credited to The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art
• Title of the Work: Zao Gongen
• Date of the Work: 11th Century
• Medium or Material used: Gilt bronze with incised decoration
• Current Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Zao Gongen is a rare sculpture of the original Japanese deity (Met Museum, n.d.). The sculpture is a representation of religious practices known as Shugendo, currently centered at Mt. Omine and Mt. Sanjo, where main temples are located (Schumacher, 2014). These two sites have been identified as World Heritage Sites (Schumacher, 2014). Including the sculpture in the exhibition is critical for creating an understanding of the Japanese religion spectrum.

• Artist: Empress Suiko
• Title of the Work: Horyu-ji pagoda
• Date of the Work: 607
• Medium or Material used: Wood
• Current Location: 1-1 Horyu-ji Sannai, Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture

The architectural work remains the world's oldest wooden building built over 1300 years ago (Boundless.com, n.d.). Serving as a Buddhist temple to the current age, the building was one of the most powerful Seven Great Temples in Japan (Boundless.com, n.d.). Most Japanese temples take this shape making such an architectural work unique to Japan. Exhibiting this art is central to showcasing Japanese architectural designs.

Africa

• Artist: Not available
• Title of the Work: Ife Terracotta Queen
• Date of the Work: 1000-1300 CE
• Medium or Material used: Stone
• Current Location: Benin ART Museum

Stone cultures are quite common in Africa. However, the Terracotta queen presents various uniqueness (Contemporary African Art, 2020). The art was discovered by archeologists from Jenne, Mali (Contemporary African Art, 2020). Similar artworks had also been discovered in Congo, Sherbro, Sierra Leone, and Benin. The exhibition of art is critical in understanding leadership as a social concern in prehistoric Africa.

• Artist: Not available
• Title of the Work: The Ife Head
• Date of the Work: 13th – 15th Century
• Medium or Material used: Brass
• Current Location: The British Museum

The sculpture is seen as a portrayal of Ife society in the Republic of Benin, which is the current Yoruba Community in Nigeria (Khan Academy, n.d.). As part of the culture, the human figure is seen as a representation of dichotomous life in the region depicting young and old age, suffering and serenity, and health and disease amongst others (Khan Academy, n.d.). Once seen as the center of the creation of the world, Ife remains a major spiritual and religious center among the Yoruba people, with such sculptors being regarded as key gods in the shrines.

The Americas

• Artist: Architects are not known. Attributed to the Mayan, Chichen Itza
• Title of the Work: El Castillo (The Castle)
• Date of the Work: 500 CE to 1000CE
• Medium or Material used: Stone.
• Current Location: Yucatan, Mexico

The structure is a large nine-level pyramid surrounded by stairways, which lead to a temple with a square shape at the apex of the pyramid (Joyce, 2019). The Mayans believed that the temple, with its 91 steps in all sides, was a portal to the heavens with a link between the humans and the otherworld (Joyce, 2019). Exhibiting this artistic work would be critical in appreciating South American religions.

• Artist: Not known
• Title of the Work: Mayan Funerary Urn
• Date of the Work: 1000-1300 CE
• Medium or Material used: Clay
• Current Location: Museo Popol, Vuh

There were numerous types of Mayan funerary urns in the forms of pottery, paintings, weaving, sculptures, jewelry, and carvings, amongst others. Such artworks provide great insight into the cultural values, norms, standards, and values of the prehistorical Americans (McIntosh, 2018). Thus, exhibiting such ceramics is critical in appraising the American culture.

Islam

• Artist: Not known
• Title of the Work: Saljuq
• Date of the Work: 1040- 1307
• Medium or Material used: Drawing and Painting
• Current Location: Not Known

The map presents the growth of Saljuq rule, which, upon assuming power in 1040, introduced Islam to new places (Khan College, n.d.). This marked the era of the first massive proliferation of the religion, with its adoption increasing immensely across Asia and Europe (Khan College, n.d.). Thus, the map is vital in exploring Islam both as a culture and religion. Its exhibition would showcase Islamic growth through history.

• Artist: Anatolian Saljuqs
• Title of the Work: Mihrab (prayer niche)
• Date of the Work: 1270
• Medium or Material used: Stone Brick and Wood
• Current Location: Pergamon Museum, Berlin

The Mihrab was a crucial object for prayer in the newly conquered land of Anatolia. The ruler, in his efforts to convert more people into Islam, placed the Mihrabs is various places, temples, and mosques to enhance prayer (Khan College, n.d.). Only a few of such copies are in existence following the replacement of the art with better versions. Presentation of the art is critical to appreciate not only the Islamic religion but also relates aesthetics.

Generally, the art exhibition creates space for tradition and heritage to meet the audience in a contemporary setting. Such exhibitions are not only for cultural promotion value but also to increase sales opportunities. Numerous arts have been included in this exhibition of world art with the main aim of showcasing various cultural aspects, especially religion, as convinced by various cultures across the globe. The key similarity between the curated objects is their depiction of religiosity. Most of the objects directly influence various religions, especially the proliferation of Buddhism. The main difference is that each of them takes a unique form in terms of what they represent and the materials used to make them. Something unique about each of the objects is that they provide some critical and original information about what they present. Generally, the art gallery is interesting and attractive.

References

Boundless.com. (n.d.). Horyuji temple. Module Search - OER2Go - The Web Unplugged. https://oer2go.org/mods/en-boundless/www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/japan-before-1333-ce-15/buddhist-art-in-japan-103/horyuji-temple-477-4715/index.html

Contemporary African Art. (2020). African art history. https://www.contemporary-african-art.com/african-art-history.htm

Joyce, R. (2019, September 25). Art: El Castillo (The Castle). Annenberg Learner. https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-view/cosmology-and-belief/el-castillo-the-castle/

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures from West Africa (article). https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/west-africa/nigeria/a/kingdom-of-ife-sculptures-from-west-africa

Khan College. (n.d.). Arts of the Islamic world: The medieval period (article). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/chronological-periods-islamic/islamic-art-medieval/a/arts-of-the-islamic-world-the-medieval-period

McIntosh, M. A. (2018, April 26). Native American art and architecture before 1300 CE. Brewminate. https://brewminate.com/native-american-art-and-architecture-before-1300-ce/

Met Museum. (n.d.). Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in water moon form (Shuiyue Guanyin) | China | Liao dynasty (907–1125) | The Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/60010286

Met Museum. (n.d.). Buddha Maitreya (Mile fo) | China | Northern Wei dynasty (386–534) | The Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42733

Met Museum. (n.d.). Zao Gongen | Japan | Heian period (794–1185) | The Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39707

Schumacher, M. (2014). Zao Gongen, avatar of mountain worship in Japan and protector of Shinto-shugendo sects. Onmark Productions Web Designs & Buddhist Shinto Photo Dictionary of Japanese Deities. https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/zao-gongen.html