Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025

 Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Location: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Meet in the lobby of the main entrance of the Art Institute

Program:

In a corner of the Alsdorf Galleries at the Art Institute of Chicago in Gallery 140, is a small display of objects derived from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal. Nepal lies between the Tibetan plateau and the Indian subcontinent and this geographical position has resulted in a blended culture that embraces both Hindu and Buddhist customs and traditions. Hinduism became the state religion of Nepal in the 5th century A.D. and has coexisted peacefully with Buddhism for over 2,000 years. The Newari people of the Kathmandu Valley were among the earliest inhabitants of Nepal. They existed as a sovereign community until Nepal was unified under the Gorkha kingdom in 1768 and continued to preserve their distinctive cultural identity afterward.

Drawn primarily from the Barbara and David Kipper collection with additional objects from the Art Institute’s own collections, in this tour with Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose, Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian and Himalayan Art at the Art Institute, we will look closely at Newari craftsmanship which was created for both Hindus and Buddhists, often combining symbols and motifs from both faiths. Famed for metalwork with inset gems, including jewelry, Newari craftsmen produce objects of religious significance and personal adornment for both local Nepali and foreign patrons in Tibet, India, and beyond. The works shown here thus feature symbols and motifs associated with both Hinduism and Buddhism, often appearing together in a single piece.

Presenter: Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose

The Art Institute of Chicago

Madhuvanti Ghose is the inaugural Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian and Himalayan Art at the Art Institute of Chicago where she is responsible for the exhibition, collection, preservation and research of the museum’s permanent collections in these areas. Since joining the museum in 2007, she has curated and organized a series of exhibitions on various aspects of Indian art.

Dr. Ghose led the Vivekananda Memorial Program for Museum Excellence (2012–16), a four-year project funded by a grant from the Government of India that was designed to foster professional exchanges between the Art Institute and various museums in India.

Ghose was previously Lecturer in South Asian Art and Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. She completed her doctoral dissertation from the University of London and was a Research Fellow at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University.

Maximum 20 IWA members and prospective new members. Tickets can be purchased at the Art Institute. Free with membership of the Art Institute.

Contact: Sunaina Kumar (sunainakumar41@yahoo.com)