Issue 750

Arts News

Age of Enlightenment

It was 2500 years ago that an Indian prince renounced his luxurious life in a search for enlightenment, thus founding Buddhism. It's the fastest growing religion in Australia and a new exhibition currently on show at the Art Gallery of NSW offers a beautiful and extraordinary insight into Buddhism through the ages.


Matreiya, Buddha of the Future, China 14th C	The Eight Great Events of the Buddha's Life, Bihar, India 10th C

Buddha: Past, Present, Future, features more than 120 works depicting Buddha over two millennium, gathered from major museums around the world. The three main schools of Buddhism - the Theravada, Mahayana and Tantric are represented in works that range from Thailand's serene gilded Buddhas, and regal Cambodian Buddha-kings, to the assured Chinese Cosmic Buddhas, the gentle Japanese Paradise Buddhas and of course the rich and complex art of Tibetan thanka paintings.

The extraordinary contemporary photography of Xiao Xian Liu also shows the commonalities of religions in two giant images - one of Jesus Christ made from tiny images of Buddha and the other of Buddha composed of tiny images of Christ.

Buddha runs at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney until February 24. Entry is $10/7.