Lecture, “Performing Texts: Manuscripts and Paubhas as Ritual Objects”

Dr. Jinah Kim, Gardner Cowles Professor of History of Art and Architecture at Harvard, is currently co-curating an exhibition at the Irish & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross: "Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal." As part of the exhibition, she will be providing a lecture on October 24th at 4:30pm in the Rehm Library, “Performing Texts: Manuscripts and Paubhas as Ritual Objects."

This exhibition highlights Nepal’s artistic heritage as a rich and enduring continuation of Indic Buddhist traditions. Featuring paintings, illustrated texts, sculptures, and ritual implements crafted by Newar artisans over the last millennium, “Dharma and Puṇya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal” will be centered on how the Buddha’s teachings were arrayed as much for worldly householders as otherworldly seekers. As the title suggests, it will illustrate the centrality of ritual in Buddhism, showing how illustrated narratives and common practices address every devotee’s need to make good karma (puṇya), a central tenet of the Buddha’s teaching (dharma). Showing some objects never before displayed in the West, this historic exhibition will focus on the unparalleled contributions of Kathmandu Valley artisans and patrons not only in their communities, but in the subsequent development of Tibetan art.

See the College of the Holy Cross website for more information.