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Photographic Exhibition of Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage in India
Photographed by Benoy K. Behl

India-Taipei Association is proud to present for Taiwanese audiences, a unique exhibition of photographs of Buddhist heritage in India. This exhibition is being show-cased by rotation in various parts of Taiwan since September 2007. Educational/ cultural/ religious institutions in Taiwan interested in having this exhibition displayed at their premises may please contact ITA at etc@india.org.tw.

Introduction

Buddhist sculpture and paintings are some of the gentlest and most sublime art of mankind.  These are also the oldest surviving art of the historic period in the Indian subcontinent.

Emperor Ashok in the 3rd century BC was the first great royal patron of Buddhism.  The great stupas which he made, his commemorative pillars and sculptural railings are some of the most beautiful and oldest surviving architecture and art of the subcontinent.

From the time of Ashok onwards, Buddhism spread not only to all corners of India but also all over Asia.  The religion and the art associated with it had a transforming effect on the countries which it reached and, till today, the art heritage of Buddhism flourishes in the whole continent.

In the 1st century AD, the Kushan King Kanishka gave royal patronage to Mahayana Buddhism and thereafter the Mahayana tradition, which later also developed into the Vajrayana tradition, became dominant in India.  This form of Buddhism also travelled northwards from Kashmir to the trans-Himalayan regions and to China, Korea and Japan.

Whereas in the earlier form of Buddhism the image of the Buddha was never made, the Mahayana Buddhists began to make and worship his images.  In the later Vajrayana developments, various aspects of the Buddha were personified in many deities and these were represented in sculptures and paintings.

In the meantime, Sri Lanka became the centre of the earlier Theravada order of Buddhism.  From here, the Buddhist tradition travelled to the countries of South-East Asia.

This photographic exhibition provides a comprehensive perspective of the monuments and art heritage of Buddhism, from the earliest times.  It also takes us on a visual pilgrimage through the life of the Buddha: to the places of his birth, enlightenment, first sermon and final renunciation.  The exhibition covers a wide range of the heritage of both Theravada and Mahayana-Vijrayana orders, providing a view of the richness of the whole Buddhist tradition

The 71 framed photographs also cover 4 of the 28 world heritage sites of India: Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Mahabodhi Temple and Sanchi. A brief write up on these 4 sites can be found at:

Ajanta Caves http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242
Ellora Caves http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/243
Mahabodhi Temple http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1056
Sanchi http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/524

About the Photographer

Benoy K Behl is a renowned photographer and art historian who is known for his pioneering low-light photography of ancient paintings, capturing their true and luminous colours more clearly than ever done before.  He is also known for his extremely sensitive photography of Buddhist art which provides a deep insight into the gentle and compassionate message of the art.

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