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Awaken: Gallery Hunt

Awaken: Gallery Hunt

Welcome to Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment!

This gallery quest (recommended for ages 8 & up) leads you to 5 different stops in the exhibition and poses a question at each. Some of the questions have answers, while others are open for your ideas. In between questions, please enjoy the other works of art around you. The section numbers can be found on the large text panels in each gallery.

Move through the video room and past the first small room. Your quest begins in Section 02.

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Awaken: Gallery Hunt

<p>Section 02|</p> <p>The Wheel of Existence is driven by three animals who represent attraction, aversion, and confusion. What three animals can you find?</p>

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Section 02|

The Wheel of Existence is driven by three animals who represent attraction, aversion, and confusion. What three animals can you find?

<p>Section 03|</p> <p>Look closely at this sculpture of the Buddha to find three of his distinguishing physical features. The ushnisha, a bump on the top of his head, represents expansive knowledge; the urna, a swirl in the middle of his forehead, represents extraordinary insight. His earlobes, stretched from wearing heavy, expensive earrings, show that he gave up his riches to find enlightenment. Which of these physical characteristics would you choose to have and why?</p>

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Section 03|

Look closely at this sculpture of the Buddha to find three of his distinguishing physical features. The ushnisha, a bump on the top of his head, represents expansive knowledge; the urna, a swirl in the middle of his forehead, represents extraordinary insight. His earlobes, stretched from wearing heavy, expensive earrings, show that he gave up his riches to find enlightenment. Which of these physical characteristics would you choose to have and why?

<p>Section 04|</p> <p>This man, Gorampa Sonam Sengge, was an important Buddhist teacher. He holds his hands in a gesture (or mudra) that shows he is teaching. Try holding your hands like this. What would you choose to teach people?</p>

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Section 04|

This man, Gorampa Sonam Sengge, was an important Buddhist teacher. He holds his hands in a gesture (or mudra) that shows he is teaching. Try holding your hands like this. What would you choose to teach people?

<p>Section 04|</p> <p>These beings are three important figures in Tibetan Buddhism. From left to right they represent its wisdom, compassion, and great power. Look closely at their faces. Do their facial expressions match the ideas they represent? Why or why not?</p>

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Section 04|

These beings are three important figures in Tibetan Buddhism. From left to right they represent its wisdom, compassion, and great power. Look closely at their faces. Do their facial expressions match the ideas they represent? Why or why not?

<p>Section 06|</p> <p>This painting depicts a fierce Buddhist protector, but his image has been swirled and looks like it is starting to melt. What objects can you identify?</p>

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Section 06|

This painting depicts a fierce Buddhist protector, but his image has been swirled and looks like it is starting to melt. What objects can you identify?

<p>Whew! Your quest is complete. Enjoy the rest of your journey through the exhibition and toward enlightenment! You can also further your quest by spending some time with the mandala puzzle at the very end of the exhibition.</p>

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Whew! Your quest is complete. Enjoy the rest of your journey through the exhibition and toward enlightenment! You can also further your quest by spending some time with the mandala puzzle at the very end of the exhibition.

IMAGES (as details)
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Wheel of Life, ca. 1800, Tibetan, Eastern Tibet, opaque watercolor on cloth. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Richmond Zimmerman Family Collection, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund.

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Gautama Buddha, 9th century, Indian, Kashmir, copper alloy with copper, silver and niello inlays. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon.

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Gorampa Sonam Senge (1429–1489), Sixth Abbot of the Ngor Monastery, ca. 1600, Tibetan, Central Tibet, opaque watercolor on cloth. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. Berthe and John Ford Collection, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund.

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The Three Protectors of Tibet,  2008, Tsherin Sherpa (Nepalese, born 1968), ink and colors on cotton, 17 3/4 x 38 5/8 in. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Acquisition made possible by the Tibetan Study Group, 2016.305. © Tsherin Sherpa. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

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The Melt, 2017, Tsherin Sherpa (Nepalese, b. 1968), acrylic, ink, and gold on canvas. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco © Tsherin Sherpa.

Answers
1. A rooster, a snake and a pig 2. Your own answer 3. Your own answer 4. Your own answer 5. You might have recognized a serpent or snake, a tiger skin, heads, claws and fangs.