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The Profound Beauty and Striking Similarities Between Orthodox Christian And Tibetan Buddhist Art (PHOTOS)

The Profound Beauty and Striking Similarities Between Orthodox Christian And Tibetan Buddhist Art (PHOTOS)
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Former Deputy Blog Editor, HuffPost

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"Embodying the Holy," a new exhibition at New York City's Rubin Museum of Art, brings to light striking similarities between Orthodox Christian icons and traditional Tibetan Buddhist painted scrolls.

Martin Brauen, the museum's Chief Curator, said that the exhibition will "provide points of basic understanding of what connects the so-called East and West on a spiritual level." Elaborating on this spiritual connection, he said that Christian icons and Tibetan painted scrolls are "both representations of a reality that is beyond our human realm. They are depictions of a divine state of being."

Referring to the aesthetic similarities between the two artistic traditions, Brauen noted, "In both cases the motifs and the general structure are prescribed in a clearly set canon of images. The figures on some of these paintings are shown frontal and axial, there is no vanishing point perspective, and often the names of single figures are inscribed."

"But there are also differences that can be explored in the exhibition," Brauen added. "These are related to the painting technique but also to the content."

"Embodying the Holy" will run Oct. 6, 2010 to March 7, 2011.

PHOTOS:

Similarities Between Orthodox Christian And Tibetan Buddhist Art (PHOTOS)
Amulet Box (Gau)(01 of14)
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Himalayan, 19th century; metal, silver; Rubin Museum of Art, C2008.21 (HAR 57003) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
The Archangel Michael, The Receiver Of Souls(02 of14)
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Greece, mid-18th century; 25.25 x 18.25 in.; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 70 (credit:The Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
Milarepa(03 of14)
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Tibet, 17th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art, C2002.24.4 (HAR 65120) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
The Nativity Of Christ(04 of14)
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Crete (Greece), 17th century; egg tempera paint and gold leaf on wood board; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 17 (credit:Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
The Prophet Elias Wearing The Clothes Of An Ascetic (05 of14)
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Russia, 16th or 17th century; unfurled scroll painted on ivory ground; 12.25 x 10.375 in.; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 194 (credit:The Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
Green Tara(06 of14)
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Tibet, 16th century; pigments on cloth; 45 x 30 in.; Rubin Museum of Art, C2006.66.19 (HAR 672) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
Triptych Iconostasis With Crucifixion(07 of14)
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Russia, c. 1600; egg tempera on wood with metalwork; the Museum of Russian Icons; 2006.9; 266 (credit:The Museum of Russian Icons)
The Tree Of Jesse(08 of14)
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Crete (Greece), late 17th century; egg tempera paint and gold leaf on wood board; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 80 (credit:Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
Lotus-Born Padmasambhava(09 of14)
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Tibet, 19th century; pigments on cloth; 27.75 x 19.5 in.; Rubin Museum of Art, F1997.12.1 (HAR 188) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
Manjushri, The Bodhisattva/Emblem Of Divine Gnosis(10 of14)
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Tibet, 19th century; pigment on cloth; 16.25 x 12.25 in.; Rubin Museum of Art, C2006.66.464 (HAR 925) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
The Raising Of Lazarus, Probably Painted On Mt. Athos(11 of14)
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Crete, c. 17th century; 8.625 x 8.25 in.; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 304 (credit:The Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
Gelugpa Lineage Refuge Field(12 of14)
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Tibet, 18th century; pigments on cloth; 40 x 26 in.; Rubin Museum of Art, F1997.41.7 (HAR 571) (credit:Rubin Museum of Art)
Anothen Oi Prophitai ('Lord, Thy Prophets Foretold Thy Coming, Inspired From Above')(13 of14)
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Byzantium, 14th century; 22.75 x 16.175 in.; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 185 (credit:The Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)
Triptych With The Crucifixion And Lancing Of Christ(14 of14)
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Balkans, 19th century or earlier; ivory; 4.437 x 6 in. open, 4.437 x 3 in. closed; the collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos; 313 (credit:The Collection of Emmanuel and Argie Tiliakos)

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