- Masterpieces of Tibetan Buddhist art are presented as the
constituents of a shrine- Sculptures, paintings, musical instruments,
and ritual objects (13th-20th century) from the Kandell
CollectionAssembly of the Exalted presents some 50 pieces from the
remarkable collection of Alice S. Kandell. The works, dating from the
late 13th century to the early 20th, include great masterpieces and
emblematic examples of Tibetan Buddhist art. They are all presented here
as the constituents of a Tibetan Buddhist shrine. Shrines, both modest
and grand, are the primary sites of Tibetan Buddhist practice, whether
it be reciting scriptures, performing rituals, saying prayers, or
engaging in meditation. The introductory essays thus focus on the
Tibetan Buddhist shrine, describing its evolution over the history of
Buddhism, its special role in Tibet, and how the pieces in the Kandell
Collection came to be assembled and displayed in shrines at institutions
across America. Illustrated with vivid photography, forty short essays,
each centered on a single work or set of objects, describe the pieces in
terms of their importance for the practice of Buddhism, highlighting the
many essential functions of Tibetan Buddhist art within the space of a
shrine.