From the Buddha to Mandalas: How to Understand Buddhist Art

Register for this Summer 2023 course on the new NYU SPS Academy of Lifelong Learning website.
Buddhist art spans a wealth of images from sublime stone sculptures of the Buddha seated in deep meditation to colorful scroll paintings depicting ferocious protector deities. Whether you are familiar with Buddhist art or simply curious about it, this course will give you the tools to acquire a coherent understanding of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India to its tantric developments in the Himalayas. The course will first delve into the core of Buddhist imagery by unfolding the life story of its founder, the Buddha. Moving on to address the developments of Buddhist art as the religion spread from India across Asia, the course will focus on the artistic tradition of Tibet. We will explore this complex, sometimes frightening imagery by examining paintings of bodhisattvas, deities, monks, and mandalas. Summer 2023 tuition is $449.
 

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