The Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara (Buddhist Retreat Center Arya Tara) in Spain has announced that it will hold a photography exhibition of Himalayan Buddhist art from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York. Titled A las puertas del budismo del Himalaya (At the Gates of Himalayan Buddhism), the exhibition will be held at the Espacio Ronda in Madrid from 23 October–5 December.
“It is a great honor to officially announce our exhibition, organized by the Arya Tara Buddhist Retreat Center,” the center’s president, María Drolma, curator of the exhibition, shared with BDG. “The exhibition features 20 color photographs of Buddhist artworks from the Himalayas (Tibet and Nepal) from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York.”
A formal opening ceremony for the exhibitions will be held on 23 October, led by the prominent Buddhist scholar Dr. Christian Luczanits, a SOAS professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Art, who was a senior curator at the Rubin from 2010–14. Dr. Luczanits studied Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, University of Vienna, with a focus on historical art.
“Though a small exhibition, this is the first of its kind in Madrid to focus on the Buddhist pantheon, as well as Buddhist artworks from Nepal. For this reason, it should carry the subtitle ‘Tantric Pantheon.’” the Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara explained. “At the Gates of Himalayan Buddhism will offer a general introduction . . . to the Buddhist pantheon of the Himalayas. It will present the hierarchy of beings beyond the human realm, beginning with the buddhas, followed by the bodhisattvas, the yidams or meditation deities, and the protectors or dharmapalas. Humans (such as founders, patriarchs, and masters) will also be included at the end.”
“This exhibition has finally come to fruition despite several setbacks due to a lack of funding for two consecutive years in Spain.” the Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara noted. “It will be hosted at Espacio Ronda, which has generously provided its exhibition space completely free of charge—they deserve great merit for making this exhibition possible, as we have expressed to them. In addition to recognizing their efforts, we would be deeply grateful if visitors could consider making a symbolic donation to Espacio Ronda after viewing the exhibition. This exhibition has been offered as a donation by a private individual to the Arya Tara Buddhist Retreat Center for the benefit of sentient beings.”
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Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara is a non-profit association in Madrid. The first Buddhist retreat center in Madrid, it is named “Arya Tara” after arya, a Sanskrit word meaning venerable and Tara, the manifestation of the feminine Buddhist aspect. As a non-sectarian Buddhist retreat center, Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara is open to all traditions and branches of Buddhism. The center can be reached by email at [email protected].
Born Madrid in 1972, María Drolma holds a BA and MA in Japanology and non-European Art History, and a PhD in East Asian Art History. María first encountered the Buddhadharma in December 2007 in a meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She subsequently took refuge with Geshe Thubten Choden in 2009. Maria has served as secretary (and English-Spanish translator) with the Instituto de Budismo Tibetano Hayagriva in Madrid, and was ordained as a Buddhist nun from 2012–13.
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Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara
Exposición “A las puertas del budismo del Himalaya” / Espacio Ronda, 23/10-5/11/25 ambos incl. (Centro de Retiros budista Arya Tara)
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