Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
"Step Away From The Chaos" And Into The Rubin's New Tibetan Buddhism Exhibit
By
Jim O'Grady
Published Apr 2, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by David De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art
By
Jim O'Grady
Published Apr 2, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Rubin Museum’s new exhibition on Tibetan Buddhism, called Awaken, is made up of 37 artworks from the 7th and 21st centuries: stone, wood, and metal sculptures, traditional Tibetan hanging scroll paintings, illuminated manuscripts and contemporary pieces by artist Tsherin Sherpa. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the path to enlightenment, and how to travel on it.
Your invitation is there in the opening sentence of the show’s description: "Unplug, step away from the chaos, and embark on a journey of self-knowledge and transformation."
Photo by David De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art
The exhibition was originally conceived by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in 2019, but moved to New York this month, where it will remain until next January. The Rubin has bolstered the show with works from its collection and from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It has also provided descriptions of the philosophical concepts behind the art. And the museum has created a an audio tour to accompany the artwork.
Elena Pakhoutova, senior curator of Himalayan art at The Rubin, spoke to Gothamist about Tibetan Buddhism’s understanding of enlightenment, and how best to seek it.
Photo by David De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art
Is this show in some way a response to the particular hardships of the pandemic, such as isolation and anxiety?
Everyone has been through these things lately — the overwhelming chaos of the uncertainty of our existence, along with the fragmented kind of lifestyle that comes with being connected mostly digitally and not really in person. It's hard to make sense of what's going on and to see the bigger picture: that we're all in this together, and that the pandemic might even be giving us the chance to face reality with a new perspective.
What is that new perspective?
It’s realizing that everything is interconnected, which gives us a new way of relating to everything around us — and not just the world but ourselves. This is the beginning of moving towards an awakened state of mind, which is talked about in Buddhism.
How does the artwork in this exhibition express the Buddhist idea of enlightenment?
Buddha means awakened. The Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree and would not move until he realized the true nature of reality. Why do we suffer? Is there a way out of this cycle of constant birth, death and rebirth? He described what he saw in teachings to his students, which became the Buddhist scriptures. A lot of Tibetan Buddhist art represents those complex ideas and explains the practice of enlightenment.
Vajrabhairava (Sino-Tibetan; 15th century or later)
Photo by David De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art
What’s an artwork that visitors will see?
They will see the sculpture of the Buddha in a meditative posture under the tree while he is touching the ground with his hand. This is important. Even though it looks like only a static stone sculpture, it is actually a re-creation of the moment just before the Buddha's enlightenment. After he had faced his fears and inner doubts and overcame them, he touched the Earth to call the Earth Goddess to witness his moment of awakening.
How did the Earth Earth Goddess reply?
Well, according to the story, she didn't reply.
Why not?
Because she's the Earth Goddess. But the whole world shook and all of the gods of India realized what had happened and they came and asked the Buddha to transmit this wisdom to them.
Tsherin Sherpa (American, b. 1968, Nepal)
Photo by David De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art
New York City has some of the busiest, most frantic people in the world. Are they especially in need of Buddhist wisdom?
I think so and, I mean, according to our visitors, they feel that this is a very moving exhibition. The Rubin is a special place where you can just come and unplug for a while and then go back and face the reality of your hectic life again with a broader perspective. You can face it with more energy and more focus and even more awareness.
Awaken runs through January 3rd, 2022. The Rubin Museum is located at 150 W 17th Street in Manhattan.
Tagged
rubin museum
buddhism
Jim O'Grady
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
What do you see when you record the whole of the boroughs?
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 5, 2026
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
Arts & Entertainment
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
By
Hank Shteamer
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .