ABCs of Iconography: The Body, Speech and Mind of Buddhist Art

The Newark Museum presents an exhibition of sculptures that project an explicit body language of postures and gestures specific to peaceful and wrathful deities.

Reorganized around the Buddhist themes of Body, Speech and Mind, gilded sculptures project an explicit body language of postures (asana) and gestures (mudra) specific to peaceful and wrathful deities. The power of speech in Tibetan tradition will be seen through carved prayer stones, prayer wheels and luxurious bookcovers. Superlative examples of early Buddhist called stupa (reliquaries), whose shape is representative of the historical Buddha’s mind, will also be exhibited. Additionally, a section of important ritual implements not highlighted in other galleries, will be placed on view here as some of the tools that assist enlightenment.