“This exhibition takes visitors on an unprecedented exploration of sublime historical Himalayan Buddhist devotional art, deepening understandings and appreciation of how and why these works were made,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “And at the center of the galleries, Tenzing Rigdol’s powerfully immersive and compellingly relevant mandalic installation draws on the foundation of the rich historical material to create a space for inspired contemplation.”

“The study of the Himalayas, especially Tibet, has advanced tremendously over the last 30 years,” said Kurt Behrendt, Associate Curator of South Asian Art at The Met. “While many Himalayan books and exhibitions have focused on technical aspects of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition’s complexity, few have succeeded in demystifying these sublime artworks to make the key ideas broadly accessible. This show aims to explore how images were employed in the Himalayan context to present the great Tibetan tradition meaningfully and coherently. The juxtaposition of a contemporary mandala as an installation should resonate with today’s viewers in a way that helps to make the larger ideas in the show relevant.”

Installation views of Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet, on view September 19, 2024–January 12, 2025 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photos by Anna-Marie Kellen, courtesy of The Met.

“I’m trying to explore the quintessential tantric idea of universality and oneness and how intricately interconnected we all are,” said contemporary Tibetan artist Tenzing Rigdol. “It is said that when the Buddha reached enlightenment, he looked at a leaf and on that leaf he saw stars, he saw rain, he saw soil, he saw air, and, in essence, he saw interdependency.”

Tenzing Rigdol (b. Kathmandu, 1982). Installation view of Biography of a Thought. Nepal. 2022–24. Acrylic on stretched canvas and woven carpet. Collection of the artist. Image © Tenzing Rigdol.

Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet is curated by Kurt Behrendt, Associate Curator of South Asian Art at The Met.

Title image: Manjuvajra Mandala. Tibet late 12th century. Distemper and gold on cotton. 40 × 30 in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm). The Kronos Collections. 

Images courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art.