Following previous exhibitions on Japanese Buddhism and Judaism respectively, Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum continues its program of interreligious dialogue with Tibetan Buddhist Art.
The exhibition gathers an exquisite selection of around 150 objects (paintings, votive images and sculptures) from the outstanding collections of the Náprstek Museum in Prague, illustrating the three essential aspects of Buddhahood: body, speech and mind. For centuries, these objects have served as tools for meditation, prayer, and didactic purposes. They are characterized by their rich iconography, deep symbolism and masterful craftmanship. They show how Tibetan art has evolved formally and developed specific regional styles over the course of centuries including magnificent paintings and sculptures decorating interiors of monasteries and wealthy dwellings as well as small paintings placed in scapulars or clay offerings used for everyday religious practice.
The exhibition’s title, Mandalas in the Wind, directly refers to the complex geometric Tibetan images bearing symbolic and spiritual meanings and to its prayer and flags known as lungta, which literally means horse in the wind, bringing good luck and good fortune.
