Sacred objects in secular spaces : exhibiting Asian religions in museums / edited by Bruce M. Sullivan.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sullivan, Bruce M., 1951- editor.

Harry E. Humphreys Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religious articles--Asia--Exhibitions.

Religious articles.

Exhibitions.

Asia.

Physical Description:

xv, 184 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Academic, 2015.

Summary:

We have long recognized that many objects in museums were originally on display in temples, shrines, or monasteries, and were religiously significant to the communities that created and used them. How, though, are such objects to be understood, described, exhibited, and handled now that they are in museums? Are they still sacred objects, or formerly sacred objects that are now art objects, or are they simultaneously objects of religious and artistic significance, depending on who is viewing the object? These objects not only raise questions about their own identities, but also about the ways we understand the religious traditions in which these objects were created and which they represent in museums today. Bringing together religious studies scholars and museum curators, Sacred Objects in Secular Spaces is the first volume to focus on Asian religions in relation to these questions. The contributors analyze an array of issues related to the exhibition in museums of objects of religious significance from Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions. The 'lives' of objects are considered, along with the categories of' sacred' and 'profane' 'religious' and 'secular'. As interest in material manifestations of religious ideas and practices continues to grow, Sacred Objects in Secular Spaces is a much-needed contribution to religious and Asian studies, anthropology of religion and museum studies. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part 1 Exhibiting Hindu and Sikh Religious Objects in Museums 7

1 What Do Indian Images Really Want? A Biographical Approach / Richard H. Davis Davis, Richard H. 9

2 Under the Gaze of Kali: Exhibitionism in the Kalighat Painting Exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art / Deepak Sarma Sarma, Deepak 26

3 Reconsecrating the Icons: The New Phenomenon of Yoga in Museums / Bruce M. Sullivan Sullivan, Bruce M. 35

4 Sikh Museuming / Anne Murphy Murphy, Anne 49

Part 2 Exhibiting Buddhist religious Objects in Museums 65

5 Planning the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery of Buddhist Sculpture, 2009-2014 / John Clarke Clarke, John 67

6 Entering the Virtual Mandala: Transformative Environments in Hybrid Spaces / Jeff Durham Durham, Jeff 80

7 Discovery and Display: Case Studies from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Denise / Patry Leidy Leidy, Patry 94

8 Mapping Cultures, Digital Exhibitions, Learning Networks: Creative Collaborations at Austin College and the Crow Collection of Asian Art / Ivette M. Vargas-O'Bryan Vargas-O'Bryan, Ivette M. 107

Part 3 Religions, Museums, Memory 117

9 Curating Asian Religious Objects in the Exhibition Sacred Word and Image: Five World Religions / Janet Baker Baker, Janet 119

10 World Religions Museums: Dialogue, Domestication, and the Sacred Gaze Charles / D. Orzech Orzech, D. 133

11 Detritus to Treasure: Memory, Metonymy, and the Museum / Michael Willis Willis, Michael 145.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Harry E. Humphreys Book Fund.

ISBN:

1472590805

9781472590817

1472590813

9781472590800

OCLC:

897016326

Publisher Number:

99964146021